September 2020 Theme of the Month

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

September 2020 Theme of the Month

This month, SERVPRO of Hardin/Larue Counties is focused on stressing the importance of being prepared in case of a natural disaster. September is National Preparedness Month throughout the county, along with it being the peak of hurricane season. It is the perfect time to put your families minds at ease, and plan for the worst.

Through the month, ready.gov has put together simple, yet important tasks you can do to help prepare your family. Check back for each week for a new set of tasks to accomplish!

Week #1 Goal: Make a Plan– September 1^st-5^th

The goal for this week is broken down into 4 simple steps.

Step #1- Put a Plan Together

Depending on your area, you are more at risk for certain types of disasters. It is a good idea to first start out with assessing what type of disasters are the most common in your area.

Now, with your list in mind, ask yourself these questions.  

• How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
• What is my shelter plan?
• What is my evacuation plan?
• What is my household communication plan?
• Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?

This will help you fill in holes and identify anything you may have forgotten.  

Step #2- Consider Specific Needs in Your Household

Look at each member of your family and think of any daily items they may need that could be hard to get a hold of during an emergency. To help identify these areas, look at:

• The daily care of infants/small children
• Elderly family members
• How each member communicates
• Pets
• Anyone with specialized medical equipment or medicine

If there are any items these members need, stocking up is a great idea, as you may not be able to easily obtain them.

Step #3- Build a Family Emergency Plan

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/create-your-family-emergency-communication-plan.pdf

There are many different emergency plan templates out there, find one you are comfortable with, or build you own! Above is a sample of a plan you can look at for ideas.

Step #4- Practice Your Plan with Your Family/Household

With you plan now completed, it is time to practice! Running over this plan thoroughly will help you identify any other weaknesses, or areas you may need to think through a little more. After discussing your plans in depth with all family members, it may also help make your family members feel safe and at ease to go over it together.

After you are done, mark your calendars for 6 months down the road to practice again!