September is National Preparedness Month
Friday, September 6th, 2013 -- 9:34 AM
-September is National Preparedness Month.The thought of your family or business being impacted by a disaster is never a pleasant one. It is however, extremely important to plan ahead and be ready if disaster strikes. Disasters can be natural or man-made such as transportation accidents or even deliberate acts. That?s why each year the month of September is designated as National Preparedness Month to encourage residents to plan and prepare for disasters which may pose a hazard to them.
John Ross, Clark County?s Emergency Management Director, explained the reason behind September being National Preparedness Month.
"The main purpose is to focus attention on the importance for individuals and businesses to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. The preparedness effort shouldn't be limited to just one month out of the year, but as with a lot of education campaigns, they focus on a particular time frame to get the message out. And hopefully the message sticks and people will stick with it year round."
There are simple steps people can take to be prepared for disasters that may strike.
"One of the first things that people should consider is having a NOAA all hazards radio. That is a great source for emergency information. The other big thing that people need to do is to have a plan for their home, know the plan for their place of employment or school and have a disaster supply kit."
It may not be fun to think about the disasters that can occur, but it is necessary.
"The big thing is that it's not going to be a pleasant experience to think about 'what if a tornado come through' or 'what if my house is flooded out.' It's not pleasant to think about it, but it's necessary to think about it because in the long run it can have a significant positive impact for you and your family if you take it seriously. Don't be afraid to talk about it."
As John mentioned the thought of disaster striking is not a pleasant one, but it can be made a bit less daunting if you take steps in advance to prepare and plan.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.