September is National Preparedness Month
September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign that reminds everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep yourself, your families and your communities safe. As the month comes to an end, and as we collectively face the impact of Hurricane Helene, all of us at FCPH want to remind our communities that it Is always a good idea to be prepared.
Emergency Preparedness (EP) is the proactive response taken by an individual, agency, community, organization to ensure the safety of all community members before, during and after an emergency or disaster situation.
Emergency Preparedness at FCPH
At FCPH, our emergency preparedness team works to develop plans to address all emergency situations and maintain efficient public health services for the residents of Franklin County. The EP program collaborates with other county agencies to ensure an efficient response to emergencies that may threaten the safety and health of residents.
When asked what advice she would give when it comes to preparedness, Emergency Preparedness and Training Supervisor Sandy Ambris encouraged folks to, “think about people with different abilities and needs when developing preparedness guidance.” Sandy also encouraged residents to ensure they have a home plan that includes pets and anyone who may need assistance.
As the increasing number of natural disasters have shown us, it is important to be prepared and have a planned response when you are at work, home, or traveling. If you’re thinking of creating your own emergency plan, the EP team advises:
- Draft your plan before an incident happens. Don’t wait until you need one!
- Revise and test your plan after an incident or at a pre-determined date. Remember fire drills in school? Practice makes perfect.
- Your plan should include how to manage threats and hazards most likely impact for you and your family.
Along with your plan, consider compiling an emergency or disaster preparedness kit. Your personalized kit is meant to help you survive on your own for several days during an emergency/disaster. The most essential part of your preparedness kit is to have at least 3-days’ supply of food and water for you, your family and your pets. Keep in mind, water may need to be used for drinking, hygiene or cooking so best practice is to have 1 gallon per person/per day on hand.
For more information on Preparedness month or to learn more about how you can make sure you are ready for whatever challenges occur, you can visit the FEMA website. You can learn more about Sandy and the FCPH EP team from our recent social media profile. Even as September ends, let’s continue to work together to ensure our communities are ready for whatever events may come our way.