Emergency Preparedness
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
National Preparedness Month
(NPM)
Question: What is NPM?
Answer:
Sponsored by the Ready Campaign, and with support from
Coalition Members across the nation, NPM is held each September to
increase public awareness about emergency preparedness. During the
month, Americans are encouraged to participate by hosting activities
and initiatives to make sure their family and community are prepared.
In recent years, more than 3,000 organizations joined the Ready
Campaign as Coalition Members.
This year, NPM focuses on encouraging you and
other Americans to take active steps toward getting involved and
becoming prepared. Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. We have
to work together as a team to ensure that individuals, families,
neighborhoods and communities are ready. For more information about
NPM, visit Ready.gov.
Question: How can I better prepare myself and my
family for an emergency?
Answer: The
Ready Campaign and its partner Citizen Corps ask Americans to take
important steps to prepare, including getting an Emergency Supply Kit,
making a Family Emergency Plan, becoming informed about the different
types of emergencies that could occur where they live, learning about
appropriate responses to emergencies, and getting involved in the
community. More information, including an Emergency Supply Kit
checklist and a Family Emergency Plan template, is available at
Ready.gov or by calling 1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY
1-800-462-7585.
Question: What should be included in an Emergency
Supply Kit?
Answer: In a
basic Emergency Supply Kit, the Ready Campaign
recommends including the following:
• One gallon of water per person per day for
three days – remember to include enough for your pets, too
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable
food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or
cooking and little or no water, and choose foods your family will eat:
ready-to-eat canned meats, peanut butter, protein or fruit bars, dry
cereal or granola. Also pack a manual can opener and eating utensils.
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA
Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and
plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
Ready also
encourages everyone to think about their access and functional needs
and the needs of family members:
•
Prescription medications, list of medications, dosages and schedules
•
Glasses
•
Infant formula and diapers
•
Hearing aid batteries
• Pet
food, extra water for your pet, leash and collar
•
Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies,
identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable
container
•
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
For a complete list of items, we encourage people
to visit Ready.gov to download a free emergency supply checklist or
call 1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Question: How can I develop a Family Emergency Plan?
Answer: Preparing a Family Emergency Plan is easy. You can get
started by using the free Family Emergency Plan template available at
Ready.gov. A Family Emergency Plan can help a family to stay in
contact if they are separated during an emergency.
Question: How can I stay informed about emergencies?
Answer: It’s important that you know the potential emergencies
that can happen in your state, region and community. Go to Ready.gov
and click on Ready
America, then Community and States Information to find out more
information about your local area. For specific questions about the
area where you live, contact your state or local Office of Emergency
Management and look for them at festivals and other events in your
area. Ready recommends including a battery operated radio, such
as a NOAA radio with tone alert, in your emergency kit to stay
apprised of developments during emergencies. It is always important to
listen to and follow the advice of local officials in the event of an
emergency.
Question: How can I talk to kids about emergency
preparedness?
Answer: The
Ready Kids website focuses on weather-related emergencies and
helps parents educate children, ages 8-12, about emergencies and how
they can help their families prepare. The Ready Campaign
encourages parents to visit the website with their children. In
addition, the Ready Campaign has developed Ready Kids
in-school materials for teachers, which are available at Ready.gov or
by calling 1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY 1-800-462-7585.
The Ready Campaign consulted a number of
organizations experienced in education and children’s health,
including the American Psychological Association, American Red Cross,
U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to develop Ready Kids. Together, these experts agree
that it is appropriate to reach children, parents, and teachers to
discuss potential emergencies and how to be prepared.
Question: How can pet owners prepare for
emergencies?
Answer: Pet
owners should assemble an Emergency Supply Kit that includes enough
pet food and water for three days, medications and medical records,
leashes, ID tags, and other appropriate supplies. It’s recommended
that pet owners have an emergency plan that
includes the needs of their pets. Taking into
consideration the types of emergencies that could happen in their area
and the appropriate responses. Pet owners can download a free brochure
from the Ready website at
Ready.gov, or request a copy by calling 1-800-BE-READY,
1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY 1-800-462-7585.
The Ready Campaign
consulted with a number of organizations experienced in animal health
and well-being to develop Ready for Pet Owners information.
These organizations include American Kennel Club, American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Veterinary Medical
Association, and Humane Society of the United States.
Question: How can older Americans and individuals with disabilities
and other access and functional needs prepare for emergencies?
Answer: Ready encourages all individuals to make an
Emergency Supply Kit, including food and water, medications, a list of
medications, dosage and schedule and medical records, and personal
items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheelchair battery charger and
other appropriate supplies to maintain health and independence.
Ready also recommends that individuals develop an emergency plan
that considers their unique needs and a personal support network they
can call upon in the event of an emergency. To learn more, visit
Ready.gov for a free brochure or call 1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO,
and TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Additionally, every individual should include their friends and
neighbors, with disabilities and without, in their emergency planning.
In an emergency, neighbors will need to be prepared to help each other
until first responders arrive. Know if your neighbors have
disabilities or other access and functional needs and help them
prepare.
The Ready Campaign consulted with a number of organizations
experienced in the health and well-being of older Americans and
individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional
needs to develop Ready information tailored to
their unique needs. These organizations include AARP, American Red
Cross, and the National Organization on Disability.
Question: What steps should businesses take to prepare?
Answer: Ready Business is designed to inform owners and
managers of small- and medium-sized businesses about what they can do
to prepare in the event of an emergency. The goal of this program is
to raise the business community’s awareness of the need for emergency
planning and motivate them to: plan to stay in business, talk to their
employees, and protect their investment.
Ready Business was developed by the Ready Campaign and
launched in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Small
Business Administration, Society of Human Resource Management, The
Business Roundtable, The 9/11 Public Discourse Project, ASIS
International, Business Executives for National Security,
International Safety Equipment Association, International Security
Management Association, National Association of Manufacturers,
National Federation of Independent Businesses and Occupational Safety
and Health Administration. For more information about business
emergency preparedness, visit Ready.gov, and click on Ready
Business.
Ready Campaign
Question: What is the Ready Campaign?
Answer:
The Ready Campaign is a national public
service advertising campaign, sponsored by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the Ad Council. It is
designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond
to emergencies, including natural disasters, emergencies, and
potential terrorist attacks. The goal of the campaign is to get the
public involved and ultimately to increase the level of preparedness
across the nation.
Ready asks
individuals to do four key things: get an Emergency Supply Kit, make a
Family Emergency Plan, be informed about the different types of
emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses, and get
involved in community efforts. Individuals can visit Ready.gov or call
1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and TTY 1-800-462-7585 for information
about emergency preparedness.
Question: What does the Ready Campaign
include?
Answer:
The Ready Campaign includes a general
consumer platform called Ready America. In addition, the
campaign has extensions for pet owners, older Americans, and
individuals with disabilities and other access and functional needs.
In 2004, the Ready Campaign and the Ad Council launched
Ready Business, an extension of the Ready Campaign that
focuses on business preparedness. Ready Business helps owners
and managers of small to medium-sized businesses prepare their
employees, operations and assets in the event of an emergency.
In 2006, the Ready Campaign and The Ad
Council launched Ready Kids, a tool to help parents and
teachers educate children, ages 8 – 12, about emergencies and how they
can help get their family prepared.
Listo is the
Spanish-language version of the Ready Campaign. Visit Listo.gov
for information in Spanish, or call 1-888-SE-LISTO. In addition, some
state and local Offices of Emergency Management have translated
preparedness information into additional languages. To find resources
in your area, visit Ready.gov.
Citizen Corps
Question: What is Citizen Corps?
Answer:
Citizen Corps is FEMA's grassroots
strategy to bring together government and community leaders to involve
citizens in all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience. The
program was created in 2002 and is headquartered in the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Preparedness and
Protection Division. Inspired by the vast outpouring of spontaneous
volunteer support after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
Citizen Corps strives to answer the essential questions "What can I
do?" and "How can I help?" in a meaningful way. Citizen Corps does
this by providing local opportunities for Americans of all abilities
to prepare, train and volunteer to help address all types of natural
and man-made hazards. Visit www.citizencorps.gov for more information.
Question: How does Citizen Corps work?
Answer: With so
many different roles and functions to play in an emergency, successful
response and recovery must be supported by well-coordinated planning,
training and preparation. Citizen Corps Councils are designed to bring
together government, community leaders, first responders, emergency
managers, businesses, non-profit and volunteer organizations, and
other groups with a direct interest in strengthening their
communities. When disaster strikes, everyone knows what their role is,
who they need to coordinate with, and how to get support where and
when it is needed most.
Question: Where are Citizen Corps Councils
located?
Answer: More than
2,300 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments in all
56 states and U.S. territories have formed Citizen Corps Councils, and
every day new Councils are formed in communities around the country.
These Councils help drive local citizen preparedness and participation
by assessing possible threats, identifying local resources, developing
community action plans, and engaging the community through Citizen
Corps partner programs which train and exercise volunteers. To find a
Council near you, visit www.citizencorps.gov/cc/CouncilMapIndex.do.
Question: What are Citizen Corps’ partner
programs and affiliates?
Answer: Citizen
Corps works with 32 national partners which include other federal
agencies and national organizations. Volunteer programs such as
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps
(MRC), Fire Corps, USA On Watch/ Neighborhood Watch (NWP), and
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) provide national resources for
training and exercising citizens at the state and local levels. In
addition, 27 Citizen Corps affiliate programs and organizations offer
community resources for public education, outreach, and training,
represent volunteers interested in helping make their community safer,
or offer volunteer service opportunities to support first responders,
disaster relief activities, and community safety efforts. Visit
citizencorps.gov for more information.
Last updated
Wednesday January 11, 2012 03:09 PM |
