National Preparedness Month is nearing its end, but being prepared never stops.This year’s theme is “Prepare to protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

According to ready.gov, “National Preparedness Month (NPM) is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.” The NPM campaign provides easy steps you and your family can take to improve your level of personal preparedness.

The 2021 NPM campaign focuses on making a plan, building an emergency kit, low-cost and no-cost preparedness, and teaching youth about disaster preparedness. You can click any of the links below to review more resources.

Making a Plan

Discussing your plans for various types of disasters ahead of time ensures you’re more resilient when the unexpected hits. Updating and communicating your plans with your family, friends, or neighbors each year is critical to your plan’s effectiveness and your own safety. Financial preparedness is a major component of planning for emergencies and by saving for a disaster, you can recover faster afterward.

Building a Kit

For instances when you’ll need to stay in your home for an extended period of time, you should have supplies stored in a safe location. For evacuations, you’ll want a go-bag ready that you can bring with you at a moment’s notice. Your kits should be catered to your family’s unique needs and should be updated often. Click HERE to learn more from Tidal Basin’s Chief Operations Officer, Mark Misczak.

Low-Cost and No-Cost Preparedness

There are several free and inexpensive ways to help your disaster preparedness efforts including signing up for weather and other emergency alerts, compiling important documents and keeping them safe, and learning more about potential hazards and how to respond to them.

Teaching Youth About Preparedness

Sharing preparedness plans with your children or students can save their lives during a disaster. Providing them important information and encouraging them to participate in planning activities can reassure them they’ll be safe even if you get separated during an emergency. Teens and college-aged students can join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Program.

More Resources

Check out the additional preparedness resources provided by Tidal Basin by clicking the links below: