September is National Preparedness Month, a time to focus on being ready for emergencies. Our Department of Emergency Management and Security wants everyone to be prepared, not just in September, but all year round.
Sandy Kenyon, a technical specialist with the department, says the theme for 2024 is “Start a Conversation.” This means talking about emergencies with your family, even if it’s not always easy.
Here are some tips to get started:
- Watch the news: Sometimes, current events can bring up these important topics naturally.
- Think about weather: Even though Fairfax County is inland, we are still in a hurricane zone. Use a weather event as an excuse to start talking.
- Include everyone: Make sure all family members know the plan. Everyone needs to be on the same page.
“A lot of times, talking about bad things that could happen like a disaster or an emergency isn’t always the easiest,” Kenyon explains. “But we need to have these conversations, so we know what our plan is for when things go sideways.”
WEEKLY THEMES FOR BEING PREPARED
Throughout September, the Department of Emergency Management and Security is focusing on different aspects of being prepared each week:
Week 1: Preparing Individuals and Families
- Make sure everyone knows the family plan.
- Keep an emergency kit ready.
- Have a meeting place in case you get separated.
Week 2: Preparing Businesses
- Businesses need plans too! It's important for them to take care of their employees and customers.
- Use the Business Disaster Resilience Guide for tips on keeping the business running during an emergency.
Week 3: Preparing Houses of Worship
- Churches and other places of worship should also be ready. They play a big role in the community.
- Make sure they have ways to communicate with their congregation during emergencies.
Week 4: Preparing Individuals with Disabilities and Special Needs
- Ensure that people with special health needs or disabilities have the supplies they need.
- Include items like extra medication or medical equipment in their emergency kit.
- Packing food for service animals
- Planning for power outages if medical equipment is needed
HOW TO GET PREPARED
Being prepared starts with making an emergency kit. This should include:
- Water
- Canned food
- A can opener (non-electric)
- Trash bags
- First aid supplies
For families with young children, don't forget items like formula and pacifiers. If you have pets, include pet food and supplies.
Kenyon suggests building your kit slowly.
“It’s like buying two or three more cans of canned goods or non-perishables that we store in the back of the cabinet and just slowly start preparing as opposed to going out and buying everything all at once.”
RESOURCES FOR PREPAREDNESS
Fairfax County has many resources to help people get prepared. The Community Emergency Response Guide (CERG) is available online and has checklists and templates for making emergency plans.
“I highly recommend everyone, even if they’re not county residents, take a look at the CERG because that will help you spark those conversations,” Kenyon stated.
Being prepared isn’t just for one month – it’s something we should think about all year round. By starting conversations and making plans now, we can all be safer when emergencies happen.
THE COUNTY CONVERSATION PODCAST
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Click here to listen to past episodes of "County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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