Major Disasters In the United States - Credit FEMA
# 6827
While government agencies like FEMA and Ready.gov continually urge people to become better prepared to deal with emergencies and disasters, many people end up doing little (or nothing) because the task seems so daunting.
To go from unprepared to prepared doesn’t happen overnight. It requires thought, effort, some modest expenditures and time.
Each September FEMA & Ready.gov promote National Preparedness Month – and I devote a good deal of this blog to that effort – but the best time to get started in preparedness is now.
And to help you along in this task is the web-based Do1Thing project, which was recently featured in the CDC’s Public Health Matters Blog. This is a 12-step program that asks you to just do 1 thing each month to become better prepared.
Register on the site (which is free) and you’ll receive monthly email reminders and encouragement, to help you meet the goal of becoming better prepared over the next year.
A few excerpts from the CDC blog, then I’ll return with more.
Categories: General, Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Response
January 1st, 2013 8:00 am ET - Blog Administrator
New Year’s resolutions have been on our mind at CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. Through the halls you will hear talk of losing weight, reading more, spending less money… the list goes on and on. But let’s be honest, resolutions can be hard to keep. This year, make a resolution you can keep. Commit to improving your preparedness skills and resources for emergency situations.
The idea of preparing for an emergency may seem like a daunting task. Some shrug and assume that emergency responders will be there to save the day. The truth is, when disaster strikes, emergency responders are slammed with calls for help. It may be left up to you. Be ready and prepared to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors.
Start small. Focus on one topic area each month for the year. The Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response has recognized the Do 1 Thing
project as a community effort that reflects and embodies the Whole Community approach to emergency management. Do 1 Thing, a web-based preparedness program, encourages participants to become better prepared by tackling one topic each month.
(Continue . . . )
Do1Thing also has a Youtube channel where you’ll find a dozen audio files (each approx 4 minutes) giving the basics for each month of preparedness, along with a dozen 30 second PSA videos.
You can visit it HERE.
The first step for January is to MAKE A PLAN. In February you’ll store enough water for family and pets to last 72 hours, and in March you’ll make decisions about sheltering in place or (if necessary) evacuating to another location.
By following these 12 monthly steps, by the end of the year, you and your family should be well prepared to deal with most emergencies and disasters.
While major disasters don’t happen every day, the United States experiences one – on average – every five to seven days. In 2011 there were a record 99 major disaster declarations.
It doesn’t take a `doomsday’ type event to ruin your whole day. Tornadoes, floods, winter storms, power outages, earthquakes, wildfires, and hurricanes are all too common occurrences.
When things go bad in a hurry, the advantage goes to those who are best prepared.
Which is why FEMA, Ready.gov, the HHS, CDC, and dozens of other agencies and organizations all encourage citizen preparedness.
For more on general preparedness, I would invite you to visit.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
And finally, some of my own preparedness articles may be of interest:
When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough
In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?
An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness
The Gift of Preparedness 2012
