FEMA offers tips to prepare for emergencies

(KBSI) – September is National Preparedness Month for tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and more.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the theme for the 2023 Ready Campaign is “Take Control in 1,2,3.” The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters especially older adults from communities that are impacted by multiple disasters.

According to FEMA, older adults are more likely to face greater risks especially if they live alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.

For National Preparedness Month in September, Southern 7 Health Department (S7HD) shares the following tips from ready.gov for how to be safe in an emergency.

• Know what disasters could affect your area, which could call for an evacuation, and when to shelter in place, and
  plan what you need to do in both cases.
•  Keep a NOAA Weather Radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV and radio for warnings
  about severe weather in your area.
• Download the FEMA app and get weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different
  locations anywhere in the United States.
•  Plan how you will communicate if you have a communications need.
•  Plan for food, water, and essentials for you and pets or service animals. Research pet-friendly evacuation
  centers.
•  Plan for your transportation if you need help evacuating.
•  Include items that meet your individual needs, such as medicines, medical supplies, batteries and chargers, in
  your emergency supply kit.
•  Plan how you will have your assistive devices with you during an evacuation.
•  Make copies of Medicaid, Medicare, and other insurance cards.
• Build emergency supply kits for work, home, and car. A list of basic supplies can be found at
  https://www.ready.gov/kit.
•  Get yourself and your family involved by finding opportunities to support community preparedness. This can
  include learning First Aid and CPR, NARCAN training, donating to reputable organizations in your area,
  volunteering, and sharing tips on social media.
•  You can also become a member of the S7HD Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). This local response team consists of
  healthcare and non-healthcare volunteers working to strengthen the health and safety of our communities.
  MRC identifies, trains, and prepares volunteers before a disaster.