September is National Preparedness Month and Portage Co. Emergency Management has committed to participate. The event is a nationwide, month-long effort encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.
September is National Preparedness Month. Portage County Emergency Management has committed to participate in National Preparedness to increase preparedness throughout the U.S. The event, now in its ninth year, is a nationwide, month-long effort hosted by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies. Portage County Emergency Management is participating this year by giving out preparedness information for the whole family at the Celebrate Amherst Riverfest (Main Street, Downtown Amherst) on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Stop by our table, pledge to prepare your family and receive a free keychain (while quantities last). Also, throughout the month view the “Pledge to Prepare” display in the Portage County Courthouse lobby, (1515 Church St., Stevens Point, Wisconsin).
One of National Preparedness Month’s key messages is: be prepared in the event an emergency causes you to be self-reliant for three days without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue.
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.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness information and events will be posted to http://www.ready.gov/community
For more information about the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit http://www.ready.gov/community or call 11-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY 1-800-462-7585.