Prepare to protect: National Preparedness Month

A yellow street sign is shown close up with the words in black "ARE YOU READY?" The background is a blue sky with clouds and trees.

September is National Preparedness Month, an observance to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters. As Gulf Coast residents, we know that September means increased tropical activity, but preparedness should be a conversation throughout the year.

Making your disaster plan has never been easier, thanks to the Ready Campaign. They’ve broken down your disaster plan into different aspects of preparedness for each week. Read more about how to put your disaster plan into place.

Week 1 September 1-4: Make A Plan

Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. At this time, review your plan to ensure it can be implemented even with potential COVID-19 restrictions. The Centers for Disease Control recommendations are updated regularly and are a resource you should reference. 

In your planning, be sure to follow evacuation procedures for each area you may be: home, school, work, or activities. Disasters can happen without warning, so including the unknowns in your plan is key.

Week 2 September 5-11: Build A Kit

Your preparedness kit should include supplies for each person in your home, to last for several days. Each person is unique in their needs, so keep this in mind if you have to evacuate quickly.

If you’re unsure where to start, reference this basic supplies list. Some examples of items needed include food, water, prescription medications, batteries, a flashlight, and more.

Week 3 September 12-18: Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness

There are several low-cost ways to be prepared at any moment. One of the best ways is to ensure you are signed up for alerts and all important documents are kept safe, but also accessible should you have to transport them quickly. It’s also important to know what natural disasters are most likely to occur in your area so you can create plans around each.

Week 4 September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness

Talk to your children about your emergency plans and what they should do if you get separated. Involving children will reassure them in the event of a disaster. You can make planning fun by making a scavenger hunt checklist for your emergency supplies and even play online games for kids to educate them about disaster planning.

When you have an emergency plan in place, you will be confident even in the face of disaster. Don’t delay on making your preparedness plans now.

ABOUT OHC

Occupational Health Center offers employers a large array of health services designed to maximize the effectiveness of your valued employees. With a strong focus on workers’ compensation claims, our services promote the continued well-being of your employees’ health and their return to work.

For more than 10 years, the business, industrial, and corporate communities have placed their trust in our doctors to provide medical care, services, and testing for thousands of their employees. 

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