SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

Ready.gov, National Preparedness Month is an important reminder about each American's civic responsibility to prepare for emergencies," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Those with the capacity and wherewithal to help themselves must do so in advance, so that in the event of an responders can first assist those who are unable to tend to themselves. From hurricanes and tropical storms along the Gulf Coast, to flooding in the Midwest, recent events remind us more than ever that we must prepare ourselves and our families for a disaster. This is the time, each year, when every American should ask the question, 'Am I ready?'"

The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps (www.citizencorps.gov) are encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps that will greatly improve their ability to survive and recover from all types of emergencies, whether natural or man-made. These steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, becoming informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, and getting involved in community preparedness and response efforts. PREPARE NOW...

Tip #1: Prepare your Car before your Home. Why? 90% of Americans own a car and travel in it regularly... far more than any other nation. Your vehicle is almost always with you... whether at home or away. Keep your Emergency Preparedness Supplies in your vehicle and odds are you will have them handy when you need them.

Tip #2: Eat the food in your Freezer after the Food in your Refrigerator. Why? Even though prepared Americans typically will have a well stocked supply of Emergency Preparedness Food and Water, it is advisable to eat and drink what you have in your home BEFORE you break into these supplies. Eat and drink what is available in your home first in case you need to take the Emergency supplies with you - You may be evacuated or find a need to move. Save the more portable Emergency rations for that purpose. Eat and drink what you have in your home sensibly. Do not even open your freezer to take stock of what is inside, in fact, if the power goes out - tape your freezer shut to hold the cold inside. Eat the food in your Refrigerator First, as it will spoil while the freezer food is slowly thawing in the sealed freezer compartment. This can buy you an extra 24 hours in a well stocked, well sealed freezer. After depleting the perishables in your fridge, then move on to the freezer items, but do it quickly - If you have items still frozen in there (towards the middle of the freezer) If so, pull the thawed items to your refrigerator for another cold storage location, work through that, and allow the still-frozen food to remain in the freezer until it thaws... repeat until all perishable food is consumed, and only then move on to your canned and dry goods. This will help you stretch your food supplies for days.

Tip #3: Do Not Flush Your Toilets (Yet) Why? The water in your toilet tank is potable water... same as your tap water. Save it for Drinking water... If you flush your toilets, your are using gallons of safe, drinkable water that could help sustain your family. Remember, too, that if you have a tank water heater, this may also have many, many gallons of safe water for your consumption so use it for drinking.

Tip #4: Change your flashlight and Emergency Radio batteries every time you adjust your clocks (daylight savings and standard time) Why? This is an easy way to remember to keep your emergency supplies ready to use. Each time you adjust your clocks forward or back, change the batteries in your Emergency supplies and while you are at it, check the condition and expiration dates of everything in our supply packs... it may be time for replacements or to augment what you have gathered with additional supplies.

Visit Ready.gov & Listo.gov
Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and increase the level of preparedness across the nation.

Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to do three key things:
(1) get an emergency supply kit,
(2) make a family emergency plan, and
(3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.

Ways & Places for you to Prepare Now! -
- Pandemic Preparedness
- Red Cross Emergency Response Center
- Workplace Disaster Kits
- Business First Aid Kits
- First Aid Stations & Cabinets
- OSHA Smart Compliance
- Home First Aid Kits
- Emergency & Disaster
- Preparedness for Pets
- Children's Emergency Preparedness
- Pandemic Prevention
- Emergency Food & Water
- First Aid Fundraising
- Red Cross Student Packs
- Evacuation Supplies
- Pandemic Exposure Avoidance
- Sanitary Supplies
- Blood / Airborne Pathogen Prevention
- Disaster Packs
- Wipe It Down!
- Pandemic Kits
- Personal Protection Supplies
- CERT Gear
- Outdoor & Camping Preparedness
- Disaster Gear
- CPR, First Aid, & AED Training