September is National Preparedness Month

  • Published
  • By Daniel Jackson
  • 66th Civil Engineering Division Emergency Management
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – September is National Preparedness Month. This year’s theme, “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead…You Can,” highlights the importance of taking action prior to a disaster in order to set you and your loved ones up for the best possible outcome if disaster strikes.

The importance of having a plan in the event a disaster hits is applicable right now as Houston begins to recover from Hurricane Harvey and the heavy, sustained rains and flooding the region experienced.

“Are you ready?” This is the question at the center of the Air Force’s annual “Be Ready” campaign, which encourages all Air Force personnel and their families to prepare for natural and man-made disasters before they strike.

Taking the time to put together an emergency supplies kit, as well as creating a family communication plan and staying informed, gives your household a head start on emergencies while reducing anxiety and stress when they occur.

Throughout September, the 66th Civil Engineering Division’s Office of Emergency Management will send out information through each unit’s EM representatives and liaisons on these focus areas: Sept. 1-9: Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends; Sept. 10-16: Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community; Sept. 17-23: Practice and Build Out Your Plans; Sept. 24-30: Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger

As you can tell, planning is a major focus for this year’s campaign. Your family may not be together if disaster strikes and knowing how you will contact one another is an easy first step you can take.

Along with establishing how to contact each other, family members should know how they would receive emergency alerts and warnings, local evacuation routes and the locations of local shelters before needing them during a real-world event. Each household is different, and different considerations, such as those for children, medical needs, pets, etc., should be thought about during the planning process.

In addition to planning, ensuring your household has an emergency supply kit is another key piece to your household overall preparedness. After a disaster, it may be some time before things get back to normal; building an emergency supply kit that can last your family at least three days builds a personal bridge to help you over the course of the critical recovery phase.

A last-minute trip to the grocery store may leave you empty-handed. Instead, having supplies of non-perishable food, water, batteries and other emergency items beforehand ensures your family can hold out while your community gets back up and running.

The third major component of emergency preparedness is staying informed. Hanscom Emergency Management will host an emergency preparedness information display at the Hanscom Exchange Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can pick up free disaster preparedness guides, activity books for children and speak with emergency management specialists.

There will also be an Emergency Preparedness Workshop Sept. 15 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Building 1851. Personnel can sign up by contacting Hanscom Emergency Management at 781-225-5921.

For additional information, personnel can visit http://www.beready.af.mil/ or https://www.ready.gov/ to learn more about being proactive in emergency preparedness.