September is National Preparedness Month, which encourages individuals, families, and communities to focus on planning for disasters. A disaster can strike at any moment but being prepared can make a difference in your safety and recovery. Benefits.gov encourages you to take actions at home, work, and/or school to be more prepared in the event of an emergency.
Making an Emergency Plan
Ready.gov, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, outlines four steps for creating an emergency plan.
- Start by figuring out:
- How you will receive emergency alerts.
- Your shelter plans.
- Your evacuation routes.
- How you will communicate with your family/household.
- Consider the needs of your household, including dietary needs, the various ages of your family members, pets, etc.
- Fill out a Family Emergency Plan.
- Practice your plan with your family.
Find out which types of disasters could affect your area by reviewing a list of potential disasters provided by Ready.gov.
Making Emergency Kits
Hurricane season is June 1 to November 30. If you live in a hurricane area, take time now to prepare before a hurricane occurs. Ready.gov advises having an emergency kit prepared with enough supplies for at least 10 days. A basic emergency kit should include:
- Water.
- Non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
- Flashlights and extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
To print out a checklist to build your kit, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.
If you have been affected by a disaster, visit the Benefits.gov Disaster Relief category for information on disaster assistance programs. Take the Benefit Finder questionnaire to find other benefits you may be eligible to receive.
