LIGHTNING. SOME OF
EMERGENCIES AND NATURAL
DISASTERS CAN STRIKE AT ANY
TIME, AND IN THOSE
DISASTERS CAN STRIKE AT ANY
TIME, AND IN THOSE
MOMENTS, YOU SHOULD ONLY
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT KEEPING
YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
SAFE. THAT'S WHY SEPTEMBER
IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS
MONTH, A TIME TO REMIND
OURSELVES OF THE WAYS WE
CAN BE PREPARED AHEAD OF
TIME. HERE WITH TIPS ON
STAYING READY IS HEATHER
MASSEY FROM YOUR BBB.
ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
INVOLVED IN NATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS MONTH?
READY IS A CAMPAIGN FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
DESIGNED TO EDUCATE
AMERICANS ON PREPARING FOR
DISASTERS. READY HAS
PARTNERED WITH FEMA TO
PROMOTE NATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS MONTH.
WHAT ADVICE DOES BBB
HAVE FOR STAYING PREPARED?
MAKE AND PRACTICE YOUR
PLAN. START YOUR EMERGENCY
PLAN BY DISCUSSING THESE
QUESTIONS WITH EVERYONE IN
THE HOUSEHOLD: HOW WILL YOU
RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS
AND WARNINGS? WHAT IS YOUR
SHELTER PLAN? WHAT ARE THE
BEST EVACUATION ROUTES? IS
THERE A COMMUNICATION PLAN
FOR EVERYONE IN THE HOME?
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN THE
EMERGENCY PLAN IS BY
PRACTICING IT TWICE A YEAR,
INCLUDING WITH YOUR PETS.
LEARN HELPFUL SKILLS. BASIC
HOME MAINTENANCE SKILLS
COULD BECOME LIFESAVING.
KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF THE
NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRICITY IN
YOUR HOME. KNOW HOW TO
PREVENT AND STOP COOKING,
HEATING AND ELECTRICAL FIRES
CHECK YOUR INSURANCE
COVERAGE. ACCORDING TO
FEMA, MORE THAN HALF OF ALL
HOMEOWNERS IN THE UNITED
STATES LACK PROPER
INSURANCE TO REPLACE THEIR
HOME AND BELONGINGS AFTER
A CATASTROPHE. MAKING SURE
YOU HAVE ADEQUATE
INSURANCE AHEAD OF TIME WILL
SAVE YOU TROUBLE LATER.
BUILD YOUR SAVINGS.
CONSIDER HAVING A SAVINGS
ACCOUNT TO USE SPECIFICALLY
IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER OR
EMERGENCY AND CONTRIBUTE
TO IT REGULARLY. IT ALSO HELPS
TO HAVE YOUR PERSONAL,
MEDICAL AND HOUSEHOLD
INFORMATION STORED IN A SAFE,
ACCESSIBLE PLACE. THAT WAY,
YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU
EASILY IN CASE OF
EVACUATION.
WATCH FOR SCAMMERS.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
SCAMMERS THAT TRY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF VULNERABLE
PEOPLE AFTER DISASTER
STRIKES. FOR EXAMPLE,
"STORM CHASERS" HOPE
STRESSED CONSUMERS MAKE
QUICK, UNINFORMED
DECISIONS. STAYING UP TO
DATE ON WHAT SCAMS YOU
MAY BE AT RISK FOR CAN HELP
YOU BETTER PROTECT YOURSELF.
WHERE CAN CONSUMERS GO
FOR MORE INFORMATION?
FOR MORE INFORMATION, THEY
CAN GO TO
READY.GOV/SEPTEMBER, OR
THEY CAN VISIT US AT BBB.ORG.
AMANDA
MORE NEWS AND
WEATHER AFTER THE
BREAK
MORE NEWS AND
WEATHER AFTER THE
BREAK