September is National Preparedness Month. National disasters may be out of your control, but there are steps you can take to be prepared to protect you and your family in the event one should strike near you. The Department of Homeland Security provides a great resource at Ready.gov to help you prepare for the types of emergencies that could affect our region where we live and work, as well as other regions you may visit.
In light of the wildfires and flooding issues that have been prominent recently around the country, it’s a good time to think about how you can be prepared for and take action if an event would occur in Kansas City. In a general sense, Ready.gov does a good job of providing guidelines and toolkits to help with overall preparedness – like creating a family emergency communication plan. The site also provides event-specific resources, like how to prepare for flash flooding.
Please take a quick review of the site and see what materials you can implement at home or work. And think ahead a bit while you’re at it. Winter is not far off, and we all know Kansas City weather can change on a dime! Take steps now to ensure you would be prepared if we had a severe weather event related to a cold snap. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers these tips to prepare your car for winter driving.
And while staying at home is often the safest (and maybe even a necessary) choice during a winter storm, it’s wise to be prepared for possible power outages during winter months. Here’s what you can do before, during and after an outage for safety. If you review this information now, you’ll be ready when cold winter strikes and can rest easy that you have prepared and know what to do.
