September is National Preparedness Month. The theme this year is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that individuals and families understand their personal roles in preparing for disasters and emergencies by taking action now. As part of National Preparedness Month, the Livingston County Department of Health and the Livingston County Office of Emergency Management will share weekly information throughout September. This week’s theme is “Make a Plan to Prepare for before, during, and after a disaster”.
Before you make a plan, talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. It is also important to be sure to include recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below are simple steps to follow when creating a plan:
Step 1: Put a plan together by talking about the following with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan:
· What is my shelter plan?
· What is my evacuation route?
· What is my family/household communication plan?
Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household: animals, special needs, ages, etc.
Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan- visit https://www.ready.gov/plan
Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household
For more information on “How to Create a Plan” visit https://www.ready.gov/plan.
In addition to the above steps, the New York Citizen Preparedness Training is an online option which provides residents with the tools and resources available to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. This free training course will provide an introduction to responding to a natural or man-made disaster. Participants will understand how to properly prepare for any disaster and includes developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies. To participate in this online training, please register at https://prepare.ny.gov/online-citizen-preparedness-training.
If you have any questions about emergency preparedness, please contact the Livingston County Department of Health at (585) 243-7524, Office of Emergency Management at 243-7160 or visit our website at www.livingstoncounty.us/doh.htm.
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