Be prepared for natural disasters

A recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survey found that nearly60 percent of American adults have not practiced what to do in a disaster by participating in a disaster drill or preparedness exercise at work, school, or home in the past year.

Further,only 39 percent of respondents have developed an emergency plan and discussed it with their household. This is despite the fact that80 percent of Americans live in counties that have been hit with a weather-related disaster since 2007, as reported by the Washington Post.

With the number and severity of weather-related disasters on the rise, the America’s PrepareAthon! is an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to take action to prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills, and exercises.

“When it comes to preparedness, practice makes perfect,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “America’s PrepareAthon! is about taking action now to better prepare yourself, your family, and your community to be ready to respond to these events before they occur.”

America’s PrepareAthon! is a national community-based campaign that provides free, easy-to-use guides, checklists, and resources to get more people to take action to prepare every day.

On April 30, individuals, families, workplaces, schools and organizations will come together to practice simple actions to stay safe before, during, and after emergencies relevant to their area.

Examples include:

1. Sign up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to your smartphone.
2. Develop an emergency communication plan for your family. This will help you be in touch if a disaster strikes and family members are in different locations.
3. Collect important documents and keep them in a safe place. This will help you evacuate without delay and get back on track after the disaster passes.
4. Gather emergency supplies. Pack a “go bag” to evacuate quickly and have supplies in the home to be safe without water or power.

Visit the America’s PrepareAthon! website, ready.gov/prepare, to take action, be counted and spread the word.

America’s PrepareAthon! was established to provide a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness as directed by Presidential Policy Directive-8. The campaign is coordinated by FEMA in collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.

In central Illinois, tornadoes and flooding are the most likely natural disasters to strike. The ready.gov website guides readers through the basics of the disasters and advises how to be prepared if they occur.

For example, the How to Prepare for a Tornado guide provides the basics of tornadoes, explains how to protect yourself and your property, and details the steps to take now so that you can act quickly when you, your home, or your business is in danger.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States and can happen anywhere. There is a How to Prepare for a Flood guide available, as well.

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