'Prepare Now, Learn How' During National Preparedness Month

Escambia County encourages residents to join in observing National Preparedness Month in September, recognized each year by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to remind everyone that we all must prepare ourselves and our families for disasters now and throughout the year. The theme for 2018 is "Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How." 

Take time to learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid, check your insurance policies and coverage for hazards, and know how to take practical safety steps like shutting off water and gas. Often, residents are the first ones to respond in communities to take action after disaster strikes and before first responders arrive, so it is important to prepare in advance to help yourself and your community. 

Each week of National Preparedness Month 2018 has a theme:

• Sept. 1-8: Make and Practice Your Plan
• Sept. 9-15: Learn Lifesaving Skills (Sept. 15 is National Day of Action) 
• Sept. 16-22: Check Your Insurance Coverage
• Sept. 23-29: Save for an Emergency

Prepare now for disasters by following these tips from Escambia County and FEMA:

Make and Practice Your Plan

• Make an emergency plan and build your disaster kit with food, water, tools and other supplies for you and your family. Click here for a form to create your family emergency communication plan, including tips on how to practice your plan.  
• Know where you will get emergency information, including alerts and warnings. 
• Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan. Find your zone at myescambia.com/knowyourzone.

Learn Lifesaving Skills

• Become CPR certified. For a list of available CPR classes offered by Escambia County EMS, click here.
• Know basic home maintenance to protect your family and your home. Learn how to mitigate your home against damage, and know how to turn off utilities like natural gas. 
• Know the ways to keep your home safe from cooking, heating and electrical fires. 

Check Your Insurance Coverage

• Insurance is the first line of defense in a disaster. Check your insurance coverage and review FEMA's document and insure property guide.
• Flood insurance allows communities and families to recover more quickly and more fully. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about flood insurance and how to protect your home or business. 

Save for an Emergency

• Plan financially for the possibility of a disaster. 
• Complete an emergency financial first aid kit. 
• Maintain emergency savings for use in case of a disaster or other emergency. 

For more information about disaster preparedness, visit bereadyescambia.com or check out the Escambia County Disaster Guide. For updates about emergency preparedness and more, like Escambia County Emergency Management on Facebook or follow @BeReadyEscambia on Twitter. 

To learn more about National Preparedness Month and how you can participate, click here.