2018 National Preparedness Month

8/21/2018 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month, recognized each September, provides an opportunity to remind us all to prepare ourselves, our families, and our businesses for each kind of disastrous situation we may have to endure. The overarching theme for this year is “Disasters happen. Plan now. Learn how" and each week we are encouraged to focus on specific emergency preparedness tasks. 

Week 1: September 1st-8th

Make and Practice Your Plan 

• To learn how to create a hurricane evacuation plan click here. 
• To learn how to create a fire escape plan click here. 
• To learn how to make an emergency plan for your pets click here. 
• To learn how to create an emergency plan for your business click here. 

Once you have created a plan specific to your needs, then remember to practice the plan with your family, employees, and pets a few times a year.

Week 2: September 9th-15th

Learn Life Saving Skills 

• Check the batteries in the smoke alarm detectors in your home and business.
• Learn how to help mitigate damages after a disaster has happened.
  1. Learn how to turn off certain utilities, like the fire suppression system, main water supply, and gas line.
  2. Compile a contact list for emergency service providers such as these:
     • Local fire department
     • Local hospital
     • Local police department
     • Plumber
     • Electrician
     • HVAC company
     • SERVPRO of Greater Covington and Mandeville 
  3. Create emergency disaster kits to keep in your home and car. Click here to see the list of supplies you will need to assemble a kit. 

Week 3: September 16th-22nd 

Review Your Insurance Policy 

Insurance plans can be hard to understand. Most people do not completely understand what situations they are covered for or the specific damages that may be excluded from their policy. Do you have flood insurance? Do you have mold coverage? Would your insurance company pay for the cleanup after your sewage system backed up? Did you know it takes thirty days for flood insurance to go into effect? Schedule a meeting with your insurance agent this week to discuss your coverage and to adjust your policy to better suit your needs.

1. To learn more about homeowners insurance policies click here. 
2. To learn how to create inventory lists for your home and business click here. 
3. To learn more about flood insurance click here. 

Week 4: September 23rd-29th

Save For an Emergency 

Any size disaster can place a heavy financial burden on a homeowner or business owner. To help be better financially prepared for an emergency follow these tips: 

1. Create an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. To learn how to do so please click here. 
2. Build up an emergency fund. To learn how to do so please click here. 
3. If you must evacuate, then remember to take certain financial documents with you. You can prepare ahead of time by gathering important financial documents, creating copies of them, and putting them on the cloud.  To learn which documents you should make copies of please click here.