This September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has committed to participate in NPM as a way to increase preparedness throughout the U.S. The month-long event, now in its fourteenth year, is a nationwide effort hosted by FEMA’s Ready Campaign that aims to encourage households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies. EDEN is participating this year by engaging the public to prepare now and learn how.
Preparing can start with four important steps:
1.Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency
2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency
3. Build an emergency supply kit
4. Get involved
This year’s overarching theme is Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. Each week in September has a subtheme, including:
• Make and Practice Your Plan
• Learn Life Saving Skills
• Check Your Coverage
• Save For an Emergency
Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. NPM focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. EDEN has a Family Preparedness course that is broken into modules such as why prepare, get a kit, make a plan, and be informed & get involved.