No one enjoys thinking about large-scale disasters and unexpected events, but the reality is that disasters can and do occur in Georgia. The good new is you have the ability to help your family make it safely through situations such as natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks and terrorist attacks by preparing today.
Planning ahead will reduce anxiety during a large-scale emergency and will ensure that you have what you need for at least 72 hours until help arrives. GEMA’s Ready Georgia campaign offers resources to help you and your family prepare. You can even receive a customized Ready kit checklist and communications plan by creating a personal profile at www.ready.gov.
It’s critical that all Georgians have a Ready kit that includes items such as water, nonperishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra clothing and a NOAA Weather Radio. It’s also important to develop a disaster preparedness plan with specific information about how to contact loved ones and reconnect if you are separated during a disaster situation.
To find out more about emergency preparedness in Georgia, visit the Ready Georgia website at www.ready.gov, and don’t be scared, be prepared!
Are You Ready? 10 Tips for Emergency Preparedness
This year has already seen deadly tornadoes wreak havoc on parts of Georgia; tornadoes and other severe storms often develop quickly, leaving little time to prepare. That’s why it’s so important to put emergency preparedness at the top of your to-do list. It doesn’t take as much effort as you might think. Here are 10 tips from Ready Georgia to help you prepare, plan and stay informed.
1) Purchase a NOAA weather radio. A NOAA weather radio can be as much of a lifesaver as a smoke alarm, but 67 percent of Georgia households don’t have one. These radios can alert you to severe weather 24 hours a day, giving you time to take shelter and stay safe.
2) Prepare your Ready kit. Your kit should include supplies for you and your family to survive at least three days without any aid – including non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight and extra batteries.
3) Create an emergency communications plan. Your family may be separated during an emergency and phones may not be in service, so it’s vital that your family knows how to reconnect. The Ready Georgia website includes a tool to help you create a customized plan.
4) Download the free Ready Georgia mobile app to help you be ready and stay informed on developing threats.
5) Make copies of all important documents and store them in a water-proof container. These should be kept in your Ready kit as well.
6) Make sure you include items for your pets in your Ready kit, and identity an evacuation shelter that is pet-friendly.
7) Familiarize yourself with the emergency protocol at your child’s school and your place of work. Knowing how to react when disaster strikes can help cut down on stress and help you reunite with loved ones.
8) Identify a safe place in your home to seek shelter when a severe storm strikes. If you do not have a basement, take shelter on the first floor of your home in the most interior room with no windows. Keep in mind this may be a closet or bathroom.
9) Periodically remove dead tree branches and other similar debris that could be picked up by strong winds and cause damage.
10) Learn the 30/30 rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. You should also stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Taking these 10 easy steps now will make a world of difference for you and your family if disaster ever strikes your area. Make time to get prepared, it could be a life-saving decision.
Want to know more about Ready Georgia?
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