September Is National Preparedness Month: How to Participate

September is National Preparedness Month, and it signifies the significance of being prepared for disasters and emergencies of every kind by helping to raise awareness. 2021’s theme was Prepare to Protect, and for 2022, it’s A Lasting Legacy – both echo the critical importance of being prepared to protect your loved ones and property in an emergency.

The more effort and thought you put into disaster planning, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever comes your way. A wide range of organizations and events focus on helping you become better prepared. If your home or property has been damaged by a storm, fire, flood, or another kind of emergency, a homeowners insurance claim attorney can help.

The History of National Preparedness Month

Disasters have long been associated with the alignment of the stars – or situations that we have no control over but nevertheless happen. Disasters refer to calamitous emergencies that cause overwhelming damage in terms of human loss, financial loss, property loss, and environmental destruction. Examples include:

• Earthquakes
• Fires
• Hurricanes
• Terrorist attacks

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) kicked off National Preparedness Month in September 2004 to highlight the importance of always having a well-considered emergency plan in place.

National Preparedness Month Activities

This year’s lasting legacy theme speaks to the importance of involving the entire family in preparations. The lineup in terms of weekly focuses includes:

• Making a plan
• Building a kit
• Low-cost and no-cost preparedness
• Teaching youth about preparedness

Regions throughout the nation will be hosting various activities, panels, and live conversations that address issues such as:

• Tribal Nation preparedness
• Disability integration and accessibility stakeholders
• Youth readiness, including the “Prepare with Pedro” campaign
• Family preparedness
• The involvement of faith-based organizations

The year’s focus on a lasting legacy is intended to remind us that the lives we’ve created for ourselves are well worth protecting and that putting in the effort to prepare for unforeseen disasters is a valuable means of protecting our legacies as they relate to our family members and other loved ones.

Themes to Explore

FEMA reminds all of us that being prepared in the face of a disaster can make an immense difference in its outcome, and as a result, it encourages us to focus on the following themes:

• Building an emergency kit that keeps the needs of everyone in the family in mind (from the youngest to the oldest)
• Making an emergency plan together that helps to ensure the efforts of everyone involved are coordinated
• Engaging in preparations that are designed to help protect both people and property
• Helping children prepare for disasters

Actions to Take

To be better prepared for whatever comes your way, there are several actions you can take to help get you started.

Explore Available Resources

Websites like Ready.gov, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offer up-to-date advice on protecting yourself in the face of a disaster.

Run Drills

Once you have a feel for what you need to do to become better prepared, it’s time to create a well-supplied disaster kit and run some safety drills with the entire family, including your kids.

Support the Community

In an emergency, it’s one for all and all for one, which makes getting out there and connecting with the community paramount. Joining a community preparedness group is a great way to contribute to the greater good while also helping to ensure that your loved ones will be safe in the event of an emergency.

Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced Homeowners Insurance Claims Attorney Today

The losses associated with national or local disasters can be devastating, and the trusted homeowner’s insurance claims attorneys at Insurance Claim HQ have reserves of experience skillfully guiding claims like yours toward optimal outcomes that support our clients’ fullest recoveries.

Your claim is important, so please don’t put off contacting us for more information and the help you need today.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.