Campaign helps to prepare for disasters

  • Published
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Civil Engineering Division’s Readiness and Emergency Management Flight here encourages members of the community to develop a disaster preparedness plan as part of America’s PrepareAthon! Day April 30.

The theme for this spring’s campaign, “Until Help Arrives,” focuses on the actions people can take to save lives while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

“America’s PrepareAthon! is a national campaign to increase individual and community preparedness and resilience,” said Dan Jackson, CE readiness program specialist. “The overall goals of the campaign are to understand which disasters can happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage, as well as take action to increase their family’s preparedness.”

A recent Federal Emergency Management Agency survey found that nearly 60 percent of American adults have not practiced what to do in a disaster by participating in a disaster drill or preparedness exercise at work, school or home in the past year. In addition, less than half of these adults have developed an emergency plan and discussed it with their family.

Jackson encourages members of the Hanscom community to discuss preparedness with their family members and co-workers. He also recommends developing emergency plans for the home as well as exercising evacuation and shelter-in-place plans. This allows people to evaluate their own personal preparedness.

“Having a pre-assembled emergency supply kit in the home can increase your family's resiliency during a disaster,” Jackson said. “Each kit should include enough supplies for the household to last at least 72 hours. Items such as bottled water, non-perishable foods, flashlights, batteries and a radio are standard, but each kit can be customized to fit the family's needs.”

Other preparedness steps include:

1. Sign up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to your smartphone.
2. Develop an emergency communication plan for your family. This will help individuals get in touch if a disaster strikes and family members are in different locations.
3. Collect important documents and keep them in a safe place. This will help you evacuate immediately and get back on track after the disaster passes.

For more information about America’s PrepareAthon!, visit www.ready.gov/prepare.  

Twice a year, a national day of action focuses attention on the importance of disaster preparedness. In addition to April, the FEMA-run campaign also takes place on Sept. 30 in conjunction with National Preparedness Month.

For further information on preparing for a natural disaster or other contingency event that may affect the local area, or if in need of assistance or advice on assembling an emergency kit or drafting a family plan, contact the Hanscom Readiness Emergency Management Flight at 781-225-5921.