Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? With Fairfield County experiencing both a minor earthquake and a major tropical storm in August, it’s definitely a good time to take stock of our lives and make sure we’re prepared when the next weather event or other emergency situation occurs!
Like many people in the area, we at Willows Pediatrics lost power and dealt with issues ranging from flooding to downed tree limbs during Irene last month. That’s why we wanted to share with you some advice on preparing for emergencies. The three steps we recommend for emergency preparedness are (1) get a kit; (2) make a plan; and (3) be informed!
Get A Kit
As Ready.gov states, “You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days.” For a good checklist of what to include in your emergency kit, visit http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.
The Red Cross and many other suppliers offer preparedness kits for purchase on their websites or you can put together your own. For parents of babies and toddlers, you should be sure to include a supply of diapers, formula, and baby food for your little ones. And don’t forget medications such as Epi Pens and insulin.
Make A Plan
Making a plan is an important step for you and your family, particularly because you might not be together when disaster strikes. Your plan should include how to contact each other, how and where you will meet up and what you will do in various situations. It’s a great idea to have a plan for evacuating your home as well, in case of fire or flood. Be sure to go over the plan with everyone in the family and practice it too! For more information on formulating a plan visit http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html.
Be Informed
According to the CDC “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.” Information about Connecticut’s emergency resources can be found here: http://www.ready.gov/america/local/ct.html
Don’t forget … as hurricane season wanes, snow season arrives and emergencies can happen at any time. So, no matter what time of year it is, it’s always a good idea to be prepared!