September Preparedness Month, Part 3
Monday, September 15th, 2014 -- 11:24 AM
-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.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, talked about the different things you can do to prepare for the upcoming Winter.
John said, "We're coming into Fall. Soon, we'll be coming into Winter. It's always a good idea to have some emergency supplies in the car. Extra blankets, flashlight, quick, ready-to-eat food in case you get stuck in the ditch or stranded along the roadway. Jumper cables, some people recommend things like kitty litter for traction. That way, if you have some ice, you can put something down to get some traction. Again, these don't have to be budget busting kits. A lot of these can be made with things you already have in the home."
John said that you should not have the mentality of it won?t happen to me or it won?t happen here.
"Studies have shown that people will have that type of attitude," John said. "The attitude of 'it won't happen here,' 'it it does happen here it won't be that bad,' 'if it happens here and it is that bad somebody will be there to take care of me.' We're in rural area. If a disaster strikes here, our response capabilities will be stretched. And people that don't have as urgent a need of medical care or rescue, they may have to stay in there home for a day, two days, maybe three days until someone can get to them."
Your help in planning and preparing will go a great distance in helping in their efforts to respond if disaster strikes. Together we can build disaster resilient communities through education and efforts to be ready.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.