National Preparedness MonthSeptember 2015

Week 1: September 1-5Personal Preparedness

• Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family.

• Knowing what your risks may be, and what the disaster plans are for your workplace, your children’s school or day care provides steps to take to prevent or avoid disasters.

• Florida Preparedness Guide: http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-preparedness-and-response/_documents/prepareguide-eng.pdf?utm_source=article

Personal Preparedness

• This week will focus on #healthy information preparing you and your family for possible flooding, hurricanes, power outages and more! Children can also become a part of the planning by playing interactive games that teach them how to #BePrepared! #NatlPrep

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HealthyFla

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FLDepartmentofHealth

Personal Preparedness

• Storms can lead to an increase in mosquitoes. #DrainAndCover

• Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use. #FightTheBite

• #Kids: Find out how strong flood waters can be and learn about flood safety in the book Turn Around, Don’t Drown: http://goo.gl/EnzV7y #NatlPrep

Week 2: September 7-11Education & Training

• Department of Health State Health Office buildings will have display tables offering copies of the Braille Preparedness Toolkit and National Preparedness Month materials

• Information on Communicating with People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Active Bystander Trainings will be available

• Medical Reserve Corps will be present at Local Health Offices statewide highlighting their work

• Children’s Disaster Preparedness and Reunification information will be shared

Week 3: September 14-18Emergency Preparedness Kits & Hurricanes

• Emergency Supply Kits and Go-Kits will be on display in all State Health Office buildings

• Copies of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Guide (English, Spanish, Creole, Large Print) will be available

Emergency Preparedness Kits & Hurricanes

• Make sure your #hurricane preparedness kit is ready to go! Don’t wait until the last minute and be left without essential items! Complete your kit: http://goo.gl/SFHGBf #NatlPrep

• Are you prepared for a #Hurricane? Start by making #healthy #emergency food kits with this checklist: http://goo.gl/PsybA7#HealthiestWeightFL #NatlPrep

• Additional printable materials can be found at http://www.healthiestweightflorida.com/activities/healthy-emergency-food.html

Week 4: September 21-25PrepareAthon & Power Outages

• Get involved, find opportunities to support your community’s preparedness activities!

• National Campaign, “Be Smart, Take Part, Prepare.” http://www.community.fema.gov/

• Be prepared for power outages, don’t scramble for flashlights at the last minute, plan ahead and practice food safety. Know when it’s safe to eat and when it’s time to toss it out!

• When the power is out, refrigerators will keep foods cool for approximately four hours. Thawed and refrigerated foods should be thrown out after four hours.

Week 5: September 28-30Top 10 Tips to Help you Prepare

1. Make an emergency plan for you and your family

2. Put together an emergency supply kit, including healthy emergency foods

3. List each person involved in the plan, contact information and label necessary supplies

4. Have enough healthy food and water for at least 72 hours (1 gallon of water per person per day)

5. If evacuating, have a place to go, call ahead and plan your route

Week 5: September 28-30Top 10 Tips to Help you Prepare

6. Designate a point of contact and consider how you will let others know you are ok

7. Carry sufficient medications and first aid kit with you

8. Make sure the emergency plan includes your pets

9. Maintain good physical and mental health

10. Help children cope with disasters and make sure they understand your emergency plan