National Preparedness Month is a perfect opportunity for servicemembers and their Families to make sure they are ready in case of a crisis. (Courtesy photo)
Planning ahead during National Preparedness Month
By the USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office
CHIEVRES AIR BASE, Belgium – Are you prepared in case of an emergency?
With September designated as National Preparedness Month, it is a perfect opportunity for service members and their Families to make sure they are ready in case of a crisis.
Established in 2004, National Preparedness Month is designed to remind citizens of the importance of preparing in advance for disasters and emergencies.
According to John Hopper, the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux emergency manager, having a plan and resources in place to fall back on during a crisis is crucial.
“One of the most important tools you and your Family can have to protect yourself in possible emergencies is a Family emergency plan,” he said. “It is important that you plan ahead for all types of emergencies and responses.”
Hopper advises service members and Families to refer to the U.S. Army’s Ready Army campaign when preparing, and keep in mind three steps – make a plan, build a kit and be informed.
Make a Plan
When establishing a Family emergency plan, it is important to remember the following:
• Know your local area’s evacuation procedures
• Decide where your Family will go in the event of an emergency
• Plan how you will evacuate any Family members with special needs
• Ensure pets are included in your Family plan
• Save “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) information on each Family member’s cellphone in case you are separated
• Set up practice evacuations or shelter-in-place drills for your Family to ensure everyone knows what to do
• Review your emergency supply kit regularly, replacing water and perishable items as needed
According to Hopper, all Family members, including children, need to be aware of the Family plan and how to contact each other if an emergency occurs.
“You may not all be together when an emergency happens,” he said. “This way you can turn around and make a plan to make sure you can be reunited as quickly as possible.”
Pets are another important consideration when making an emergency plan.
The Ready Army campaign recommends planning for two different scenarios for pets – one where Families are allowed to evacuate with their pets, and another where they are required to leave pets behind in an evacuation.
If evacuating with a pet, the campaign advises keeping them in a secure carrier that is tagged with the pet’s name, description and Family contact details.
If required to evacuate without pets, the animals should be left inside the home. Before leaving, a notice should be placed on the door stating the number of pets inside and including contact information for the Family and their local veterinarian.
In both situations, Families should make sure there is plenty of food and water available for their pets.
Build a Kit
According to Hopper, service members and their Families should always have a home emergency kit.
“It’s simple enough to go around the house and see what you would use,” said Hopper. “Make sure that you have food, water – the necessities to survive if you have to leave your house.”
A home emergency kit checklist can be found on the Ready Army website.
However, Hopper also advised building multiple emergency kits.
“Having a home emergency kit is not enough,” he said. “Other kits could be useful whether you have to shelter-in-place at work or evacuate in your car.”
According to the Ready Army campaign, these other kits can supplement a Family’s main home emergency kit.
Each kit should have specific items, depending on where it is stored:
• A portable emergency kit should contain items similar to a home emergency kit, except smaller and easy to carry. Consider adding enough supplies to last two weeks and place the kit in a designated area that will be easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
• An office emergency kit should contain at least food, water and a first aid kit and kept at your work station in case of evacuation. Other items to include are comfortable walking shoes and your Family’s communication plan.
• A vehicle emergency kit should contain at least food, water, a first aid kit, signal flares, jumper cables, seasonal clothing and your Family’s communication plan in case you are stranded while driving.
Be Informed
Hopper advised service members and their Families to stay up-to-date on local emergency policies in their area.
“Emergencies can arise from different situations, such as the weather, natural causes, terrorist incidents,” he said. “By staying informed, you can prepare yourself in an emergency.”
In addition to knowing what types of emergencies are the most likely to affect the area they live in, service members and their Families are advised to learn about local emergency warning systems and response plans.
The U.S. Department of State also provides country-specific advisories and crisis response information in case an emergency occurs while traveling outside of the local area.
“Knowing what to do can make all the difference when seconds count,” said Hopper.
Additional Resources:
• View U.S. Department of Homeland Security information and resources at ready.gov
• Learn more about the Ready Army campaign
• Learn emergency preparedness tips while traveling from the U.S. State Department
• Find additional pet-specific information here
• Find children-friendly resources here and here