Charleston, WV – Being ready ahead of a disaster is the most critical action you can take to protect the things that matter to you most - your family, your home, your pets, and your business. Every year, West Virginia faces its share of floods and other emergencies. ReadyWV encourages West Virginians to take time during September to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to prepare for and recover from potential disasters.
As part of National Preparedness Month, ReadyWV urges residents to take the following steps to be better prepared:
Make A Plan - Develop a plan for how you and your loved ones will reach safety during any emergency. Know where your shelters at home, work and school are located or how you will safely leave the building. Practice going to those safe places. Also, make sure everyone knows how to contact each other if a disaster were to occur while you are separated.
Build A Kit – Kits should include enough non-perishable food, water, and medications to keep you safe for up to 72-hours. First aid supplies, a flashlight, and a NOAA Weather Radio, along with copies of insurance policies, prescriptions, and a list of important contact numbers, are also great inclusions. Store your kit in a location where you can access it quickly during an emergency.
Know Your Risk – Being prepared for disasters includes identifying the risks that exist in your community. This includes understanding the natural threats such as flooding, and man-made risks that may be nearby, such as industrial or chemical sites. Use that information to develop your emergency plans, then review and practice them with everyone in your home.
Teach Youth Preparedness – Disasters can be scary for kids. Help them feel more in control by talking about what they should do in an emergency. Teach them how and when to utilize 911. Youth Preparedness information and tools can be found at the ReadyWV website,
https://ready.wv.gov/Youth/Pages/default.aspx.
Ready WV is a program of Volunteer West Virginia, with support from the WV Department of Homeland Security. For more information about disaster preparedness, visit
Ready.WV.gov.