Start the Conversation During National Preparedness Month

September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep family, friends, neighbors and the community safe. This year's theme is "Start the Conversation."

Talking about bad things that could happen, like a disaster or emergency, is not always easy. Individuals may think they are protecting the people they love by avoiding these conversations, especially with children. Still, these conversations are essential to getting ready and staying safe. Emergencies are stressful, so discussing them beforehand allows everyone to think about what will help them feel more prepared and comfortable when things are unplanned.

Starting a conversation today can help you and your family to take more action to prepare. You can build your preparedness at your own pace by taking simple steps:

• Set aside a time when everyone is calm and relaxed.
• Hold the discussions over a set period so decisions are not rushed and people feel more comfortable discussing the topic.
• Talk about steps you've taken to prepare and encourage others to ask questions about preparedness actions that might work for them.

While each person's abilities and needs are unique, every individual can take steps to prepare for emergencies by evaluating personal needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs. Planning and preparation done today significantly enhance your ability to recover from emergencies.

Have an Emergency Kit

It is essential to be prepared to meet basic needs during an emergency. Households should be ready to shelter in place for at least three days. This means gathering the supplies needed to meet basic needs. Discuss with household members what resources you use daily and what you might do if those resources are limited or unavailable.

Basic Supplies: Think first about the basics for survival - food, water, clean air and any life-sustaining items you require. Consider two kits. In one kit, put everything you will need to stay in your home. The other kit should be a lightweight, smaller version you can keep in your vehicle or workplace if an emergency happens while at work or traveling.

For a full list of supplies, please visit: https://www.ready.gov/kit

Recommended basic emergency supplies include:

• Water, one gallon of water per person/pet per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and a can opener if the kit contains canned food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight/Headlamp and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Non-sparking wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pet or service animal
• A small amount of cash for emergency purchases

Medications and Medical Supplies

If you take medicine or use a medical treatment regularly, be sure you have what you need on hand for at least a week. You should also keep a copy of your prescriptions and dosage or treatment information. If it is not possible to have a week-long supply of medicines and supplies, keep as much as possible on hand and talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you should do to prepare.

If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or receive regular services such as home health care, treatment, or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans. Work with them to identify backup service providers within your area and the areas you might evacuate to. If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your healthcare provider about how to prepare for its use during a power outage, and sign up for priority restoration with your power provider.

Additional items: In addition to basic and medical supplies, you should also have other things specific to your personal needs on hand. If you use eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen, be sure you always have extras in your home. Also, have copies of your medical insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid cards readily available.

Include Emergency Documents: Your emergency supply kits should include copies of important documents such as family records, wills, power of attorney documents, deeds, social security numbers, credit card and bank information, and tax records. It is best to keep these documents in a waterproof container. Include the names and numbers of everyone in your personal support network and medical providers. Also, be sure you have cash or traveler's checks in your kits if you need to purchase supplies.

Think about what helps you cope during stressful times, whether listening to music, reading a good book, playing a game as a family, or snuggling in a cozy blanket. Discuss what items your household would like to include until the emergency passes.

Make a Plan

The reality of a disaster situation is that you will likely not have access to everyday conveniences. To plan, think through the details of your everyday life. If there are people who assist you daily, list who they are and how you will contact them in an emergency. Create your support network by identifying others to help you in an emergency. Think about what modes of transportation you use and what alternative modes could serve as backups. If you require handicap-accessible transportation, be sure your alternatives are also accessible. For every aspect of your daily routine, plan an alternative procedure. Make a plan and write it down. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency supply kits and a list of important information and contacts in your wallet. Share your plan with your family, friends, care providers and others in your support network.

Develop a Family Communications Plan: Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how to contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, emails, and makes out-of-area contact since local phone towers may be down or overwhelmed. Text messages are more likely to get through than a phone call. Be prepared for phones to be unavailable and pick a place for household members to meet as soon as transportation is safe. For more information on how to develop a family communications plan, visit www.ready.gov/plan.

Consider Your Pets: Whether you stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you must plan in advance for your pets and service animals. Remember that what's best for you is typically what's best for your animals. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you, if possible. However, if you go to a public shelter, you must understand that only service animals may be allowed inside. Stafford County shelters partner with Animal Control to accommodate pets at the shelter site in a designated area.

Making a Family Emergency Plan can be overwhelming. To help get you started, use this free template to help you think through what you should include in your plan and fill in the blanks!

Family Emergency Plan Template: https://www.ready.gov/plan-form

Be Informed

It's essential to stay informed about what types of emergencies are likely to affect your region. You can access Stafford County's Hazard Mitigation Plan to review the County's hazards and mitigation projects. Knowing what hazards will likely affect our area helps you understand what you should be prepared for. Stafford's hazards include dam/levee, failure, extreme heat, drought, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, flooding, hurricanes, tropical storms, severe thunderstorms (lightning, hail and strong winds), winter weather and ice storms (including Nor'easters), pandemic/infectious agent, tornadoes, impaired waterways, civil disturbance, technological hazards (cybersecurity risk, aging infrastructure, hazmat, biohazards and industrial accidents. With Stafford Alert, you can also sign up to receive emergency notifications, including severe weather advisories/watches/warnings, road closures, and school or government closures. You choose what alerts you want to receive and through what methods (voice, text, email, etc). You can also follow Stafford County Government and Emergency Management on Facebook or visit the website for important updates and information at www.staffordcountyva.gov. For more resources or tips on preparing, please visit www.ready.gov.

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