Are You Ready? - National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and is designed to encourage residents and community members to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. September, 2009 marks the sixth annual NPM and it is a good reminder to us all that we have a responsibility to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. Disasters can quickly overwhelm first responders and the focus of this year’s NPM is to educate Americans on what it truly means to be “Ready”.
Get Ready Now
Creating your family plan together is a great opportunity to learn together.
When preparing for an emergency, preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry. It truly means ensuring you have a well formulated emergency plan and supplies including an Emergency Supply Kit; a written Emergency Plan; information about particular emergencies and the appropriate responses/reactions; and a commitment to getting involved in your community’s efforts for disaster preparation. Disasters can occur in any location and at any time, so it is important that wherever you spend large amounts of time - such as at work, school and/or in your car - that you have a kit for each location.
Where to Start
Review your emergency plans with your family, and others with whom you spend the majority of your time, to ensure everyone is on the same page in case of an emergency. If you have pets, large or small, include them in your Family Emergency Plan and don’t forget any medications they may need. Preparing seniors and those individuals with special needs is also something to think about when preparing your effort to be “ready” for any emergency.
Participate in Your Community
Emergency preparedness is fun for the entire family.
In support of National Preparedness Month, the City of Fontana will be hosting its Inaugural Family Safety and National Preparedness Fair on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Fontana Police Department and City of Fontana City Hall parking areas from 10 am – 3pm. The focus of this event is to promote the importance of family safety and provide the community with resources to help them prepare for any type of emergency. For more information on this event, please visit the City of Fontana Police Department Web site www.fontanapd.org or contact Heather Howard, Community Policing Technician at (909) 350-7758.
CERT volunteers make a difference one survivor at a time.
The City of Fontana also has a volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) program that trains community members to better respond to a natural disaster. The seven-week course is held one night per week and includes a disaster simulation drill at the end of the session. To find out more, please visit the City of Fontana Police Department Web site at www.fontanapd.org or contact Laura Wolbert, Emergency Services Technician at (909) 350-7756.
National Preparedness Resources
For more information on NPM or for help getting your family, business or community prepared, call 1-800-BE-READY or visit www.ready.gov, www.listo.gov or www.citizencorps.gov, where you’ll find free preparedness resources such as Family Emergency Plan templates, Emergency Supply Kit Checklists, and much more. The Ready Web site also has a special section for kids, ages 8-12, (Ready Kids) and small- to medium-sized businesses (Ready Business).
