During National Preparedness Month, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is urging Californians to be prepared for all disasters and emergencies.
Recognized annually during the month of September, National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder to promote family and community disaster planning not just now, but throughout the year. Cal OES will share critical preparedness resources all month long.
“California is no stranger to wildfires, earthquakes, extreme heat, winter storms and mudslides. We want all Californians to take the necessary steps to prepare themselves and their families for any emergency,” said Davina Mapes, spokesperson for Cal OES. “Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, so we want Californians to be prepared all year round.”
Here are four steps you can take to practice preparedness:
Make a Go-Bag
Put together a bag that you can quickly grab if you are in an emergency and need to leave home. Include items like nonperishable foods, water, copies of important documents, cash, and anything else you think your family would need.
Make a Family Emergency Plan
Make an emergency plan that you and your loved ones can rely on in case of an emergency. Identify a safe place you and your family will meet in case you need to leave home, how you will communicate with each other if you get separated, and important contacts of those you would need to get a hold of.
Learn Your Evacuation Routes
Make sure everyone in your family knows multiple evacuation routes for your home, work, or school. When a disaster strikes, roads can become clogged with traffic, or they may be closed for safety. Knowing alternative routes around these areas can help you be more prepared during an emergency. Knowing how to leave safely is an important step in disaster preparedness.
Engage Your Support System
Check in on those who may need extra care, including children, elderly, individuals with limited English proficiency, or other access and functional needs. If you need extra help, build a support network with people you trust who can help care for you before, during, and after a disaster. Make sure everyone in your support network is involved with your emergency plan.
Resources:
Listos California Multilingual Preparedness Resources Hub
FEMA National Preparedness Month 2024 Theme “Start a Conversation”