September is National Preparedness Month

8/25/2020 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized every September to promote community disaster planning, with the theme for 2020 being “Disasters Don’t Wait.  Make Your Plan Today.”  With the end of August growing near, an extremely active hurricane season taking place, and extra preparations and precautions made necessary by COVID-19, preparing yourself, your loved ones, and your property for a disaster situation is of the upmost importance.  Ready.gov offers weekly National Preparedness Month themes to help organize your preparations:

Week 1 (September 1^st-5^th): Make a Plan

Determine lines of communication, designated meeting places in case of separation, and responsibilities for each member of your household.  Depending on the needs of your family, you may require additional planning steps.

Week 2 (September 6^th-12^th): Build a Kit

Gather supplies for each member of your family.  You kit may include food, clean water, medications, pet foods, communication devices, and batteries.  Keep your kit as compact as possible, and in an easily accessible location, in case evacuation becomes necessary.

Week 3 (September 13^th-19^th): Prepare for Disaster

In the Panhandle of Florida, one of the most common disasters you may face is a hurricane.  To prepare for such an event, be sure to follow local and national news as it pertains to hurricane tracking, check your insurance coverage, and make sure your disaster preparedness kit is built. If a storm is forecasted to hit in your area, follow the direction of local officials concerning shelter and evacuation orders.

Week 4 (September 20^th-26^th): Teach Youth About Preparedness

Make sure children’s needs are included in your preparations.  Include their items in your disaster kit, talk with them about protocols and procedures in the event of a disaster situation, and answer any questions they may have.

As a leader in clean up and restoration, SERVPRO of Bay County is Here to Help in the event your property is damaged by a hurricane or other disaster situation.   Serving the Panhandle of Florida, including Panama City, Panama City Beach, and Lynn Haven, our team is “Faster to Any Size Disaster!”  To learn more about our services, call 850-785-1077.

For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit https://www.ready.gov/september