Government Information:
Ready.gov & Listo.gov
Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and increase the level of preparedness across the nation.
Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to do three key things: (1) get an emergency supply kit, (2) make a family emergency plan, and (3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
Preparedneses Month Tips:
Tip #1: Prepare your Car before your Home. Why? 90% of Americans own a car and travel in it regularly... far more than any other nation. Your vehicle is almost always with you... whether at home or away. Keep your Emergency Preparedness Supplies in your vehicle and odds are you will have them handy when you need them.
Tip #2: Eat the food in your Freezer after the Food in your Refrigerator. Why? Even though prepared Americans typically will have a well stocked supply of Emergency Preparedness Food and Water, it is advisable to eat and drink what you have in your home BEFORE you break into these supplies. Eat and drink what is available in your home first in case you need to take the Emergency supplies with you - You may be evacuated or find a need to move. Save the more portable Emergency rations for that purpose. Eat and drink what you have in your home sensibly. Do not even open your freezer to take stock of what is inside, in fact, if the power goes out - tape your freezer shut to hold the cold inside. Eat the food in your Refrigerator First, as it will spoil while the freezer food is slowly thawing in the sealed freezer compartment. This can buy you an extra 24 hours in a well stocked, well sealed freezer. After depleting the perishables in your fridge, then move on to the freezer items, but do it quickly - If you have items still frozen in there (towards the middle of the freezer) If so, pull the thawed items to your refrigerator for another cold storage location, work through that, and allow the still-frozen food to remain in the freezer until it thaws... repeat until all perishable food is consumed, and only then move on to your canned and dry goods. This will help you stretch your food supplies for days.
Tip #3: Do Not Flush Your Toilets (Yet) Why? The water in your toilet tank is potable water... same as your tap water. Save it for Drinking water... If you flush your toilets, your are using gallons of safe, drinkable water that could help sustain your family. Remember, too, that if you have a tank water heater, this may also have many, many gallons of safe water for your consumption so use it for drinking.
Tip #4: Change your flashlight and Emergency Radio batteries every time you adjust your clocks (daylight savings and standard time) Why? This is an easy way to remember to keep your emergency supplies ready to use. Each time you adjust your clocks forward or back, change the batteries in your Emergency supplies and while you are at it, check the condition and expiration dates of everything in our supply packs... it may be time for replacements or to augment what you have gathered with additional supplies.
Preparedneses Month Tips:
? Become a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member (http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM)
? Update and Distribute Emergency Contact Information to your Employees. Additionally, you can create and distribute a list of important emergency numbers in the areas you do business.
? Host a Business Preparedness Review. Organize an emergency preparedness procedures review with employees to review your companys emergency plans and practice emergency drills. For more information about business preparedness, go to Ready.gov and click on "Ready Business." There are many resources and tools that you can order or download.
? Host a Brown Bag Lunch or Preparedness Meeting or Day.
? Put Emergency Items on Display. Showcase an Emergency Supply Kit in your break room or other high-traffic locations and encourage employees to get their own Emergency Supply Kits for their homes.
? Make Employees Aware. Put a bottle of water on each employees desk along with a note that says "If there is an emergency, do you have enough water to last you and your family for three days?" and a printout of the emergency supply checklist.
? Showcase Instructional Videos and PSAs. Play them in lobbies, waiting rooms, break rooms, and/or at events. Various instructional videos are available at Ready.gov/videos.
? Host a Business Preparedness Workshop. Contact a local business or commerce organization and work together to host workshops for business leaders about the importance of business preparedness. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau have worked with the Ready Campaign and their local organizations may be interested in serving as a resource for you.
? Conduct Office Evacuation/Shelter-in-Place Exercises and Drills. During the month of September, schedule emergency exercises and drills. Once completed, evaluate how well they worked and if additional training or exercises are needed. For information on addressing the needs of employees with disabilities, visithttp://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/effective.htm.
? Distribute Emergency Preparedness Messages. Include emergency preparedness messages in communication touch points such as e-mails, newsletter articles, bill stuffers, receipts, and Social Media.
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