National Preparedness Month 2017

Courtesy Photo | This year’s theme for National Preparedness Month is ‘Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.’ and its goal is to increase the overall number of individuals, families and communities who engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school and places of worship. (Courtesy graphic)  

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, UNITED STATES

09.06.2017

Story by Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam 

341st Missile Wing

September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is ‘Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.’

According to ready.gov, the goal of NPM is to increase the overall number of individuals, families and communities who engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school and places of worship.

Brian Wilkinson, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management flight installation emergency manager, said with the disasters currently surrounding the world from wildfires, floods and hurricanes to tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, waiting to develop a plan could be too late.

“Here in Montana we are susceptible to fires, earthquakes and even tornadoes,” Wilkinson said. “Some of us may already have plans but September is a month to refocus on preparedness, updating our emergency plans and being ready.”

Each week of September has its own theme for being prepared and helping others. The first week is ‘Make a Plan for Yourself, Family, and Friends’ followed by ‘Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community’ for the second week, ‘Practice and Build Out Your Plans’ for the third and ‘Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger’ for the last week of September.

Ready.gov offers the following tips:

• Make an emergency plan
• Sign up for alerts and warnings in the local area
• Learn personal evacuation zones and have an evacuation plan
• Verify insurance coverage
• Plan financially for the possibility of danger

Remember some of these factors when developing a personal emergency plan:

• Different ages of members within the household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

“You don’t want to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Staff Sgt. Kristan Hall, 341st CES emergency management technician. “Make yourself an emergency kit with necessities, be prepared and keep yourself and your family safe.”

For more information, visit ready.gov, beready.af.mil, or contact readiness and emergency management at 731-6695/6677.

Don’t wait. Communicate.

• Date Taken: 09.06.2017
• Date Posted: 09.06.2017 16:14
• Story ID: 247262
• Location: MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, US