September is National Preparedness Month, tips to stay safe during an emergency

September is National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Security wants to make sure you are ready for any type of emergency.

The overall theme is “Disaster’s Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”

According to the campaign website, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Become aware of disasters that could occur in your area.
• Sit down with family members and talk about possible scenarios you could face i.e., fire, natural disaster.
• Create a plan and make sure everyone knows the proper way to respond.
• Make a list of emergency contacts.
• Establish a meeting location in case of separation.

Each week in September focuses on a different topic:

• Week 1 (September 1^st-9th: Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
• Week 2 (September 10^th-16th): Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community
• Week 3 (September 17^th-23^rd): Practice and Build Out Your Plans
• Week 4 (September 24^th-30^th): Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger!

DHS has a wide variety of resources and tips for each week, which you can find HERE.