September is designated National Preparedness Month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to raise awareness of the hazards people face and ways to prepare for those risks. This year’s theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love” and we certainly see first-hand the need of a strong support system from family, friends, and neighbors before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. The impact of climate change is being felt by families across the country as disasters grow larger and occur more often. To get ready for these intense weather events, the City is urging families to make readiness a priority this September during National Preparedness Month.

For the past several years, the country has experienced more intense storms, heavier rain, higher temperatures, severe droughts and record-setting hurricanes and wildfires. Some of these emergencies are impacting people who don’t usually experience a major disaster, while other communities are going through the devastation of disasters multiple times a year. Last year, extreme weather events created the greatest number of billion-dollar disasters to strike the United States. Here are a few simple steps you can take to become better prepared.  

Make an Emergency Plan

The time to prepare for an emergency is before one occurs, not reacting during an incident. Create a Plan that includes the needs of everyone, including pets, and has important contact information for family, friends, and neighbors along with medical needs detailed in it.

Get a Kit

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Build A Kit  

Stay Informed

Getting verified information from trusted sources is extremely important before, during, and after an event or emergency. The City uses Code Red for notifications as well as social media and website updates to share information. Visit norwalkct.org/codered to sign up for Code Red. For real time weather alerts and notifications from the National weather service, download the American Red Cross- Emergency App or the CT Prepares App. Both are free and available for Apple and Android devices. 

Get Prepared Financially

If your paper files and personal computer are lost or damaged in an emergency, your personal information, bank statements, and insurance records could be destroyed. Plan ahead to ensure that valuable documents are safe and accessible whenever you need them. Take time now to ensure you can recover later. Financial Preparedness | Ready.gov

For more information on National Preparedness Month, including additional resources and videos, visit norwalkct.org.