Being Prepared

September marks an annual nationwide effort to improve disaster and emergency preparedness. During National Preparedness Month led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), all Americans are encouraged to become aware of potential disaster scenarios and develop plans for responding. During this time, I want to direct you to the valuable resources available at Ready.gov and provide you with a short overview of information that is there to assist you in building a response plan in the event of any emergency. As FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said recently, "Some disasters come with a warning, some come with a forecast and some just happen. Being prepared can often times mean the difference between suffering and surviving a disaster."

Certainly, Oklahomans are no strangers to facing disaster. While there are some emergency cases that could happen in communities anywhere, we rightly anticipate disaster in the form of severe weather in our state. As we’ve seen in years past, tornadoes can cause unbelievable destruction. No one could anticipate the monstrous storm that tore through Moore on May 20, 2013, nor the incredible tornadoes and flooding that we experienced across the state just this spring. Given the inevitability of severe weather in Oklahoma each year, it is vital that individuals, families and communities know how to respond.

In the midst of any disaster or emergency, FEMA notes that there are several common steps worth following in preparation. First and foremost, it’s important to consider how to avoid physical harm, whether that requires taking shelter or evacuating. Most often in Oklahoma, severe weather requires us to seek a safe place to wait out the storms—like a safe room or storm shelter.

Second, FEMA encourages every family to have a communications plan written down, printed out and kept close at all times. When families are in different places at the time of disaster, this plan proves especially important for getting in touch and checking on our loved ones. FEMA has fillable templates available for download on Ready.gov to help families put together complete contact information and determine meeting places to be reunited.

Third, individuals and families should have an emergency supply kit ready for any disaster. On Ready.gov, there is a list of basic items that should be included like water, non-perishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries and first aid kit.

Fourth, there are numerous local and national alerts to stay updated on emergencies. Whether through social media, text message, television or radio, it’s important to know what places (like the National Weather Service) to check for updates on emergency situations.

While we cannot know what the future holds with the weather and other emergencies, we can anticipate our response and prepare. If you haven’t already laid out a plan for yourself, your family or your business, I hope you’ll take the time to do so this month. To join with others across the nation in preparing for disaster, I encourage you to register at Ready.gov for the National Day of Action PrepareAthon taking place on September 30th. You can also direct questions to my Norman office at (405) 329-6500.