September is National Preparedness Month and a good time to think about things you can do to make sure you and your family are prepared for emergencies. Oregon Governor Kate Brown has issued a state proclamation in support of National Preparedness Month, highlighting the efforts of Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to work with communities across the state to train, educate, prepare and equip Oregonians for emergencies.
“Oregonians are known for our grit and resilience,” Governor Kate Brown said. “National Preparedness Month is a great reminder that we each must do our part to be personally prepared and develop family plans so we are ready for and able to quickly recover from major disasters, emergencies, and ultimately, the ‘Big One.’”
This year OEM is participating in FEMA’s Ready.Gov campaign to inform and empower people to prepare for and respond to emergencies. The campaign theme “Don’t Wait. Communicate.” provides a call to action for families, neighborhoods and individuals to make an emergency plan and communicate the plan before, during and after emergencies. OEM is encouraging Oregonians to set a goal of being prepared for at least two-weeks.
“What we do today to prepare will saves lives and property tomorrow, or whenever a disaster strikes,” said OEM Director Andrew Phelps. “As we build a culture of preparedness in Oregon we are empowering Oregonians to be disaster survivors not victims. We want Oregonians to be prepared not scared.”
* Be informed about disaster risks. In Oregon winter storms, floods, heat waves and
earthquakes threaten residents. Monitor all types of media — newspapers,
websites, radio, TV, mobile and land phones, and amateur radio are all good
sources of information about disasters. Check out www.ready.gov for the latest
preparedness information.
* Build an Emergency Kit. A disaster can happen anywhere you live and work. Once
it happens it may take days for responders to reach you and you may have to go
without food, water, or electricity. Build an emergency kit with two weeks supply
of food, water and other necessary supplies. The American Red Cross has a
recommended list of emergency kit items:
http://www.redcross.org/flash/brr/English-html/kit-contents.asp
* Make an Emergency Plan. Talk with your family and friends about what you will do
and if you’re not together during an emergency. Discuss how you’ll contact each
other, where you’ll meet, and what you’ll do in different situations. Read how to
develop a family disaster plan at http://www.redcross.org/flash/brr/English-
html/make-a-plan.asp.
OEM has an array of preparedness materials to help plan for disasters available through local county emergency management offices. One of those publications is the OEM Emergency “Go-Kit Passport,” a mini-booklet that provides a way to track family information, a home evacuation plan, medical contacts and prescription needs, as well as insurance carriers and critical information for family pets. In addition, the booklet contains a list of basic emergency kit items and links to other disaster preparedness resources.
Families and individuals can receive a Certificate of Preparedness signed by Governor Kate Brown for completing a “Go Kit Passport” for their emergency kit. Contact public.info@state.or.us for more information.
