Being Prepared
By Tom Damm
It wasn’t prophetic, just prudent to do a Healthy Waters blog earlier this year on preparing for water emergencies. Since then, the Mid-Atlantic region has been pounded by a hurricane and drenching storms that have wreaked havoc in flooded communities across the area.
It’s time to revisit and broaden that topic since September is National Preparedness Month. We can’t be reminded too often of the need to be ready for natural disasters and other emergencies.
That was clear when our EPA offices in a Philadelphia high-rise started to vibrate in the recent earthquake, and we trudged down flights of steps to evacuate and get over to a staging area.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages all of us to:
As we move on after marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, there will be activities across our area to promote emergency preparedness at home, at work and in the community.
Take advantage of these opportunities and check out these websites sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and EPA for more information. And share with us any practical steps you’ve taken to be prepared.
About the Author: Tom Damm has been with EPA since 2002 and now serves as communications coordinator for the region’s Water Protection Division. Prior to joining EPA, he held state government public affairs positions in New Jersey and worked as a daily newspaper reporter. When not in the office, Tom enjoys cycling and volunteer work. Tom and his family live in Hamilton Township, N.J., near Trenton.