September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is to empower communities to act today to prepare for future risks and disasters by “starting conversations with those you love.” Minority populations often struggle with preparing for disasters perhaps due to lack of family support in the area or funding. Talking about disasters with loved ones isn’t easy but it’s a good time to start. As a society, many of us don’t plan ahead…instead we have just enough for the time being. Now is a great time to be sure you have batteries for the flashlights…oh, where are the flashlights? It’s time to find them. Do you have a weather radio? Do you know where your important documents are?
The weather has also become more extreme. Very hot and humid days, drought, below zero temperatures, tornadoes, and windstorms are just some of the events we experience in Winneshiek County and northeast Iowa. In other parts of the United States people experience similar weather conditions and collapsing roads and bridges, flooding and hurricanes. There are man-made incidents too. We’ve all dealt with post-pandemic inflation due to supply issues and workers not going back to the factories. What if…a family member becomes extremely ill? you become hospitalized? a job loss? reduction in pay? bankruptcy? evacuation due to flooding? impassable roads? bridge out? how will you get to town? What is your emergency? How do you plan to deal with your emergency. ?
- Assess your needs. If you have refrigerated medications, rely on mobility or assistive devices or have a pet, you’ll need to understand how tis factors into what you’ll need to stay safe in an emergency.
- Make a plan. Once you determine your needs, you can tailor your plans to be sure those needs are met. This can include building a kit that includes medications.
- Engage your support network. Build a support network of family, friends and neighbors who can support you before, during and after an emergency. Make sure someone in your support network has a key to your home and knows where you keep emergency supplies.