September is National Preparedness Month
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National Preparedness Month, recognized each September, provides an opportunity to remind us that we all must prepare ourselves and our families now and throughout the year. This year, National Preparedness Month will focus on planning, with an overarching theme: Disasters Happen Prepare Now. Learn How.
From last fall’s snow storms and fires to this springs flooding, power outages and evacuations should be fresh in our minds. As a whole, Blaine County managed the situations well, but what would have happened with a few changes to the situations above? What if power outage was several days longer? What if Chinook, or Harlem, had heavy spring rain, adding to already flooded rivers and streams? Would you have been ready? Did you have a plan and the necessary supplies?
We all have an individual responsibility to be prepared to take care of ourselves in the immediate aftermath of events like fires, floods or power outages. Expecting the Red Cross, FEMA, or another agency will be immediately available to provide food, water, shelter and transportation simply isn’t reality. Other concerns of medications, pets, livestock and communication with loved ones outside the area that want to know how you are doing will be up to you as an individual for the short term in any emergency.
How short term? The general guideline is to have enough food, water, medications, and other needed personal items for a minimum of 72 hours. For rural communities it could easily be argued that this length of time should be longer. How many of us were without power for longer than three days after the snowstorm last October? Only you can assess your situation and plan accordingly.
This brings us to the point of National Preparedness Month. MAKE A PLAN!
During the month of September your local Disaster and Emergency Coordinator and Public Health Department will be submitting articles designed to aid you in preparedness for local emergencies. Topics for the next three weeks will provide you with the basics to have a Family Communications Plan, 72 Hour and Evacuation “Go” Kits, and considerations to plan for Power Outages.
Also follow us on the Blaine County Health Department Facebook page for additional preparedness information and regular updates on other topics
