Kicking Off National Preparedness Month
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National Preparedness Month starts September 1. We're kicking things off August 28 – September 3 to promote this national campaign to prepare individuals, families, and communities for disasters and other emergencies. This year's theme is “Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”
Each week of National Preparedness Month has a designated theme:
- Week 1 (August 28-September 3): Kickoff to National Preparedness Month
- Week 2 (September 4-10): Preparing Family and Friends
- Week 3 (September 11-17): Preparing Through Service
- Week 4 (September 18-24): Individual Preparedness
- Week 5 (September 25-30): Lead Up to National PrepareAthon! Day
Join us by accessing the 2016 National Preparedness Month Social Media Toolkit on the Ready Campaign website. There, you'll find preparedness messages to share with family, friends, and colleagues. You'll also find additional resources such as graphics, instructional videos, and public service announcements to support preparedness in your community.
Get ready! Get prepared! National Preparedness Month is coming soon. |
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Join the September 11 National Day of Service & Remembrance
One way to show your support for National Preparedness Month is through volunteering. Volunteers can play an important role in their communities by helping first responders after a disaster. Join thousands of Americans participating in the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives during the September 11, 2001 attacks. The National Day of Service is also dedicated to survivors and those who served their communities following the attacks. Find volunteer opportunities in your area today!
Also, @Citizen_Corps will host a Twitter chat on Friday, September 9 at 1 PM ET discussing the importance of volunteering and ways you can support your community. Join the conversation using #Prep2Serve .
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The ABCs of Back to School
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School bells are ringing across the nation! Parents and guardians, it's time to get familiar with the emergency plan at your child's school and daycare.
Much like individuals and families, schools and daycare providers should all have site-specific emergency plans. If you're a parent or guardian, it's vital that you make sure your child's school or daycare has a plan to ensure his or her safety during an emergency. The Ready Campaign recommends you:
- Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis;
- Ask if they store adequate food, water, and other basic supplies; and
- Find out if they can “shelter-in-place” and where they plan to go if they must get away.
Disasters can occur while your child is away from you, but protecting from afar is as easy as ABC. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outline a quick and easy way to keep your child safe at school or daycare:
- A sk how you will reunite with your child in an emergency or evacuation;
- B ring extra medication, special foods, or supplies that your child might need; and
- C omplete a backpack contact information card.
If your child has a disability or an access or functional need, be sure to meet with a school disability specialist to discuss plans for how the school will provide for his or her safety. For more information about school emergency plans, visit https://www.ready.gov/school-emergency-plans .
Parents, guardians, and teachers can also use the Children and Youth Preparedness Social Media Toolkit to share safety messages on their social media networks. |
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Coping Mechanisms: Children and Disasters
Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma or seen the event on television, it's important for parents to be informed and ready to help ease their child's stress.
According to the Ready Campaign , children may respond to disaster by demonstrating fears, sadness, or behavioral problems. These reactions may vary depending on the child's age.
Children's reactions are often influenced by the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of adults. Parents can help meet their child's emotional needs by:
- Encouraging him or her to share thoughts and feelings about the incident;
- Clarifying misunderstandings about risk and danger by listening to their child's concerns and answering questions;
- Maintaining a sense of calm by validating their child's concerns and perceptions with discussion of concrete plans for safety; and
- Monitoring or limiting exposure to the media.
For more information about helping children cope with disaster, www.ready.gov/coping-with-disaster .
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Dates for Your Calendar
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