Do You Know What To Do In The Case Of An Emergency?

Today (September 30, 2014) has been proclaimed 'America's PrepareAthon! National Day of Action.'

The campaign is being promoted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to increase emergency preparedness.

According to a recent survey conducted by FEMA, 50 percent of Americans have not discussed or developed an emergency plan for family members about where to go and what to do in the event of a disaster.

Additionally, nearly 70 percent of Americans have not participated in a preparedness drill or exercise, aside from a fire drill at their workplace, school or home in the past two years.

To encourage more Americans to prepare and practice, the 'America’s PrepareAthon!' campaign offers up these tips:

1. Sign up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to your smartphone.  Learn how to search for local alerts and weather apps relevant for hazards that affect your area.
2. Gather important documents and keep them in a safe place. Have all of your personal, medical, and legal papers in one place, so you can evacuate without worrying about gathering your family’s critical documents at the last minute.
3. Create an emergency supply kit. Bad weather can become dangerous very quickly. Be prepared by creating an emergency supply kit for each member of your family.
4. Develop an emergency communication plan for your family. It’s possible that your family will be in different locations when a disaster strikes. Come up with a plan so everyone knows how to reach each other and get back together if separated.

For more information on how to become 'Disaster Aware', go to ready.gov.