September is National Preparedness Month, and Chief Christopher Coleman encourages all residents to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies.
This year’s National Preparedness Month theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home.” Community members are encouraged to take a few steps to ensure they’re prepared for any emergency, such as getting themselves, their family and their home ready for emergencies like fires, power outages, local floods and more.
The following information is courtesy of Ready.gov:
Know Your Emergency or Disaster Risk
The first step in preparedness is to know what could happen where you live and work. Knowing what emergencies are likely to occur in your area, you can prepare and ensure you have what you need to stay safe.
In North Attleborough, emergencies such as inland floods, extreme cold and heat, winter storms, fires, and other emergencies may occur. All residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up for critical updates during emergencies and other important events via the Town’s emergency alert system, Everbridge.
Plan What To Do, And Where And When To Go
Community members are encouraged to have a plan should an emergency occur. The plan should include:
- Key information, such as doctors, insurance, and emergency contacts, so everyone knows what to do and how to reconnect.
- A pre-determined location to go to if you can’t stay home. If an evacuation occurs, follow directions from local fire, police and town officials.
- A fire escape plan that has been practiced with all family members.
- Accommodations for your pet, including a pet kit.
Have What You Need To Stay Safe
Consider what you and the people in your home need to stay safe, and ensure it’s accounted for in an emergency kit. Kits should include:
- Enough food, water and medicine can help you to stay safe and comfortable until help arrives.
- First aid kit, flashlight and batteries.
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
For a complete list of what kits should include, visit Ready.gov/kit.
For more information, visit Ready.gov or contact the North Attleborough Fire Department’s Public Education Team at nafd_publiceducation@nattleboro.com.
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