Disasters and public health emergencies can happen at any time. National Preparedness Month, recognized each September, provides an opportunity to remind us that we all must prepare ourselves and our families now and throughout the year.
Emergency plans may need to look different this year than in past years. Consider how COVID-19 may change how you react to a disaster or other emergency and make a plan with your loved ones. Prepare and plan for surviving on your own after a disaster. Current recommendations are to plan for several days without electricity, water service, access to a grocery store, or local services.
Ask yourself:
- What will you need?
- Where will you go?
- How will you get there?
Make a family communications plan that includes important phone numbers so your family can stay in contact before, during, and after a disaster. Know where to gather. Teach children what to do in an emergency if they are at home or away. Topics to review with them include:
- Sending text messages
- Emergency contact numbers
- Dialing 9-1-1 for help
We have come to depend on smart phones and tablets. Be tech ready with emergency charging options for phones and other mobile devices. To conserve energy when needed, practice changing the settings on your phone to low power mode and putting it in airplane mode.
While we don’t always connect preparedness with health, being prepared for disasters, disease outbreaks, and medical emergencies is an aspect of being healthy. For more on how individuals and families can be better prepared ahead of disasters, visit the Prepare Kansas blog and ready.gov.
Health means…having an emergency plan for disasters.
Contributor: Elizabeth Kiss
