September Is National Preparedness Month

With significant flash flooding happening around the country, threats of earthquakes and tsunamis, and winter storm season approaching, it’s especially important to be prepared when disaster strikes unexpectedly. September is National Preparedness Month. This year, give your residents peace of mind by helping them proactively prepare their families and homes for potential disasters—before they happen.

The Purpose of National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month occurs every September as a reminder of the importance of preparing for unexpected events to minimize impact. The purpose is to encourage proactive planning, whether for natural disasters, health crises, or other disruptions. Being prepared can make all the difference in protecting people, property, and peace of mind.

Helping Your Residents Prepare for a Disaster

Disasters can strike with little warning, leaving communities vulnerable and overwhelmed. By helping your residents take proactive steps today, you’re not only protecting lives and infrastructure, but you’re also strengthening community resilience and alleviating the strain on emergency services.

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Encourage residents to participate in National Preparedness Month by offering educational opportunities, tips, and resources.

• Offer additional life-saving skill courses, such as CPR and first aid
• Conduct public safety drills with your mass notification system
• Encourage additional volunteers for your community emergency response team (CERT)
• Include a statement stuffer in utility bills encouraging residents to check their home or renter’s insurance policies to ensure they’re protected from everyday hazards in your area, such as floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes
• Remind community members to stay informed by posting tips on social media and using common National Preparedness Month hashtags such as: #PrepareNow #FloodSmart #NatlPrep
• Work with your local sheriff’s office and police or fire department to create informational videos and share them on your government website and social media
• Encourage people to sign up to receive emergency alerts via your mass notification system
• Remind residents about your community’s designated evacuation zones and routes, especially if you anticipate seasonal disasters such as hurricanes
• Encourage families to make personal emergency evacuation and communication plans for their homes
• Create and share tutorial videos that instruct residents on what supplies to stock in their homes and vehicles in case of a disaster
• Encourage residents to build a contingency plan for their pets in the event of a disaster
• Take National Preparedness Month as an annual opportunity to review your community emergency preparedness policies for anything outdated or in need of refreshing

If you haven’t already registered, sign your community up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to utilize its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Learn about this mass notification tool and how, if integrated into your emergency mass notification system, you can use it to inform residents and travelers of crucial information in seconds.

While September is dedicated to preparedness, safety awareness should be top of mind for residents and public safety officers year-round to stay proactive and resilient when unexpected disasters strike.