September is National Preparedness Month. This year’s theme is You Can Be The Hero. Co-workers, neighbors and friends are often the first on scene in an emergency; making them our “heros”. What can you do to prepare to be the hero? The following is a list of measures you can take at home and at work to become better prepared for the disasters you and your family may face.
Know your risks. What hazards does your community face? We live in an area prone to earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, and more. Review the UCI Emergency Operations Plan and ask your city/county emergency management agency for their plans as well.
Build A Kit – put together a go-kit that includes water, non-perishable food, prescription medicaiton, flashlights, batteries, a NOAA weather radio, and other items. Have a kit at home, at work or school, and in your car.
Make A Plan - build a family preparedness plan that includes information on how to respond to your local hazards. Have a UC Ready Business Continuity Plan for your department.
Be Informed – know what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Review the UCI Emergency Procedures Blue Flip Chart. Sign up for zotALERT; the UCI emergency text message system. Sign up for AlertOC to receive emergency notifications for your city.
Get Involved – sign up for Campus Search and Rescue Training, take CPR/First Aid Training at the ARC, and take fire extinguisher safety training at EH&S. Get involved with Zone Crew, know your assembly areas, and be prepared for emergencies at work and at home! Work with the UCI Emergency Services Division to coordinate a department continuity and/or emergency response tabletop exercise to test your plans ([email protected] or x4-7147).
These are just a few of the things you can do to prepare. Don’t worry – you don’t have to complete all of these things at once. Use National Preparedness Month to jumpstart your efforts. By preparing in advance for the possible hazards you may face, you just may be preparing to be the hero!
For more information visit www.ready.gov and http://snap.uci.edu/viewXmlFile.jsp?cmsUri=public/MainMenuEmergencyManagement.xml
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