Paris Tenn. – The Henry County Health Department is observing September as National Preparedness Month, alongside many community partners, and emphasizing how planning ahead protects lives and livelihoods during disasters and emergencies.
“Preparedness starts at home,” County Health Director Tracy Byrd said. “Simple steps like building an emergency kit, including multiple ways to receive emergency alerts and information, and having a family plan for emergencies can make a huge difference when every second counts.”
Key Steps to Be Prepared
- Know Your Risks – Find out what hazards exist where you live? This will help you determine what to do to stay safe. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency provides information on the biggest emergency threats in Tennessee, from earthquakes to communicable diseases to extreme weather events.
- Have a Family Emergency Plan – Follow these four easy steps and create a Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily. Decide how you will communicate and where you will meet if separated. Taking time to prepare now will provide peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs.
- Build an Emergency Supply Kit – This list of supplies will help you build a kit to make sure your family has enough food, water, and medicine, and other supplies, to stay safe in an emergency until help arrives.
- Be Informed – Sign up to receive local emergency alerts and make sure you have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts, warnings, and instructions – add a battery powered weather radio to your other home information resources, such as mobile devices and televisions.
- Get Involved – Emergencies happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. You can help in your community before, during, and after disasters. Join a Community Emergency Response Team program or a volunteer organization such as the Medical Reserve Corps, or get free emergency training such as a CPR course through the American Red Cross.
Visit the webpage for the Tennessee Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness
Program to learn how it works with local, state, and federal partners to make sure Tennesseans have continued access to essential health services in emergencies or during system disruptions.