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Be Ready! September is National Preparedness Month

Collage: People with a laptop computer. A first aid kit. Firemen review a map.Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Be prepared: assemble an emergency supply kit, make your emergency plans, stay informed, and get involved in helping your family, your business, and your community be ready for emergencies.

 

Throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. Over 1,800 organizations – national, regional, and local public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.

You can join the effort by following four steps:

September 2008 marks the fifth annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.

During September, emergency preparedness will focus on:

Photo: Children by a Fire Truck.

In collaboration with the American Red Cross, CDC's Web site, Emergency Preparedness and You identifies and answers common questions about preparing for unexpected events, including:

Additional information and resources are available from Emergency Preparedness and Response under topics such as hurricane preparedness, extreme heat, and bioterrorism. CDC continually updates information on recent outbreaks and incidents and lists emergency resources for the general public as well as for clinicians and public health professionals.

Are you prepared? During September, focus on being ready – at home, at work, and in your community – and prepare for a natural disaster or other emergency.

Get an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit includes the basics for survival: fresh water, food, clean air, and warmth. You should have enough supplies to survive for at least three days. Review the items recommended for a disaster supplies kit or print the Homeland Security Emergency Supply checklist (Adobe Acrobat PDF Icon 209KB, 2 pages).

Make an Emergency Plan
Photo: Emergency drill.

Make plans with your family and friends in case you're not together during an emergency. Discuss how you'll contact each other, where you'll meet, and what you'll do in different situations. Read how to develop a family disaster plan or fill out the Homeland Security Family Emergency Plan (Adobe Acrobat PDF Icon 645KB, 2 pages).

Ask about planning at your workplace and your child's school or daycare center. The US Department of Education gives guidelines for school preparedness. Workers at small, medium, and large businesses should practice for emergencies of all kinds. See Ready Business for more information.

Be Informed

Being prepared means staying informed. Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers, radio, TV, mobile and land phones – for global, national and local information. During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services office will give you information on such things as open shelters and evacuation orders. Check Ready America community and state information to learn about resources in your community.

Get Involved
Illustration: Ready.gov, September is National Preparedness Month.

Look into taking first aid and emergency response training, participating in community exercises, and volunteering to support local first responders. Contact Citizens Corps, which coordinates activities to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to an emergency situation.

Homeland Security promotes emergency preparedness throughout the year via the Ready America campaign. Checklists, brochures, and videos are available in English and in Spanish online and by phone (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO).

More Information


USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov

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