The Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) is excited to recognize the month of September as National Preparedness Month.  The 2018 National Preparedness Month theme is “Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.”  This theme serves as a reminder to prepare in advance by learning lifesaving skills such as first aid and CPR, checking insurance policies to determine coverage for potential hazards such as floods, tornadoes or natural disasters and knowing how to safely shut off water and gas.

Week 1: Make and Prepare Your Plan- Spend time with your family in putting together a plan that fits everyone’s needs.  The plan should address how you will communicate with each other, where you will meet, who will be in charge of what activity and packing an emergency supply kit.  Don’t forget the pets.

Week 2: Learn Lifesaving Skills- Take the opportunity to learn first aid and CPR before you need it in an emergency.  Do you have a proper working fire extinguisher in your home and do you know how to use it. Get a smoke, carbon monoxide, and natural gas alarm with flashing lights or vibrating signals if you’re deaf or hard of hearing. Do you know where the shut off valves for the natural gas and water in your home are if there is a leak.  These and other skills can help you and your family in the event of an emergency or an accident. September 15 is the National Day of Action and occurs during the Second week.  This is a good day to plan to exercise your plan or do a special activity at your worksite.  

Week 3: Check your Insurance Coverage- Emergencies and disasters can happen to anyone and trying to recover afterwards is severely limited by access to insurance, personal finances, and medical coverage.  Review your policies for amount and extent of coverage and know where they are located. Store paper copies in a waterproof and fireproof box, safe, or bank deposit box. Leave copies with trusted relatives or friends. Flood and earthquake insurance typically has to be purchased separately so this may be something to look into if you live near an area prone to flooding. 
Week 4: Save for an Emergency- Consider saving money/cash for an emergency because ATM’s or credit cards may not work after a disaster.  You will have expenses like lodging, food, and gas, after a disaster. Are you prepared? Make digital copies of important documents and save them on the cloud or a secure cell phone app in case disaster strikes.  

“National Preparedness month is a great time for families to focus and plan for ways to protect themselves and their homes during emergencies,” says Stephanie Baker, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, JCHD.  “Unfortunately we cannot stop emergencies from happening, but learning and preparing before an event is our best defense.”

The Jackson County Health Department encourages all residents to visit the JCHD Emergency Preparedness Webpage or  www.michigan.gov/michiganprepares for further information and resources to help individuals and families get on the right track for staying prepared.  Residents may also visit the Jackson County Health Department on Facebook to stay informed on ways to stay prepared.