Be Ready for Emergencies this National Disaster Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month, an important reminder to make sure your family is ready before an emergency happens.
Here in East Texas, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, extreme heat and power outages can happen with little warning. While we can’t always predict when an emergency will occur, having a plan can make a big difference in how safely, and how quickly, we respond and recover.
“We can’t always predict when an emergency will happen, but we can control how prepared we are,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB East Texas. “Having a plan before disaster strikes can help your family make better decisions in the moment and avoid costly mistakes during the recovery process.”
BBB and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommend taking a few simple steps now.
Know how you will receive emergency alerts. Make sure everyone in your household knows how to receive local weather and emergency notifications. The FEMA app provides preparedness information and real-time National Weather Service weather and emergency alerts for up to five locations.
Make a family emergency plan. Talk about where you will go if you need to evacuate, where you will shelter during severe weather and how family members will reconnect if you become separated. Include children, older adults, family members with disabilities and pets in your planning
The following are FEMA’s 12 Ways to Prepare before a disaster occurs:
- Sign up for alerts and warnings
- Make a plan
- Save for a Rainy Day
- Practice Emergency Drills
- Test Family Communication Plan
- Safeguard Documents
- Plan with Neighbors
- Make your Home Safer
- Know Evacuation Routes
- Assemble or Update Supplies
- Get Involved in your Community
- Document and Insure Property
Build or update your emergency kit. Keep enough basic supplies to help your household manage during an emergency. Your kit should include water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, medications and other necessities. Don’t forget infant supplies, pet food and chargers or backup power sources for phones and other devices. Keep some cash available in case electronic payment systems aren’t working. FEMA provides a complete emergency supply checklist.
Protect important information. Keep copies of insurance policies, identification, financial records and other important documents in a secure, accessible place. Take photos or video of your home and belongings to help document your property before a loss occurs.
Practice your plan. Don’t wait for an emergency to find out whether your plan works. Practice evacuation and shelter plans with everyone in your household and make sure family members know where emergency supplies are located.
After disaster strikes. Another step you can take is to know who to call after disaster strikes so that you and your family may recover quickly. As part of the vetting process for BBB Accreditation, BBB ensures all businesses who earn the BBB seal maintain the licensing requirements for that industry and provides the following guide to help you find businesses you can trust:
Insurance companies near me
Water damage companies near me
Roofing contractors near me
Plumbers near me
Electricians near me
Heating and air conditioning companies near me
Remodeling companies near me
Tree Service companies near me
Foundation Repair companies near me
Waste management companies near me
For more information on how to prepare before and react to a disaster, go to bbb.org and ready.gov. Please report fraudulent activity or unscrupulous business practices to BBB Scam Tracker. Remember, great businesses are out there. Always look for the BBB seal; it’s the Sign of a Better BusinessSM . Start with companies you can trust by going to bbb.org.
