emergency preparedness, Gov. Bill Haslam has declared September National
Preparedness Month in the state. This year marks the 10th anniversary of
the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, offering
individual and family planning for emergency situations. This year’s
observance theme is, "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.” The
Tennessee Department of Health is issuing a call to residents to take
specific steps to be prepared in the event of an emergency: get a kit;
make a plan; and be informed. Detailed information is available online
at www.ready.gov.
“Ten years ago, our country changed forever, but as a nation we
promised never to forget and vowed to be prepared for the
unthinkable,” Haslam said. “Recent natural disasters throughout
the state are a reminder of how we need to remember to be prepared for
unpredictable events that may impact our families and communities.”
Beginning in the spring of 2010 and continuing into the current year,
Tennessee has experienced record-breaking flooding and several severe
storms, some with tornadoes. This year alone, the state has had two new
federal disaster declarations in response to violent storms and more
severe flooding, bringing the total of presidential declarations to
eight in the 15-month period, from May 2010 through July 2011.
“We have seen firsthand in Tennessee how emergencies can take their
toll on the health and safety of our family, friends and neighbors,”
said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “It’s clear that
families need to have an emergency kit, make a plan and be as informed
as possible to be able to withstand the devastating impact natural and
man-made disasters may bring.”
Here are the basics to get ready for an emergency:
?Get a kit
After an emergency occurs, you may need to survive on your own for
several days. Food, water and other supplies should be on hand for
everyone in your location to last for at least three days. You can
expect officials and relief workers to arrive after a disaster, but it
may take several hours or even few days. Also remember that basic
services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and
telephones may be cut off for extended periods. A suggested list of
items to include in your kit is available online at
www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.
?Make a plan
When disaster strikes, your family members may be in different
locations, so it’s important to have a plan in advance. Everyone in
your household needs to know how to contact one another, where they
should gather if possible, and what to do in different situations. To
get started on your family plan, visit
http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp or go to
www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/familyemergencyplan.pdf.
?Be informed
Tennessee encourages “all hazards” planning. There are many
similarities in planning for any natural or man-made disaster. However,
how your family might plan for flooding, a tornado or chemical threat
may be very different. Make sure to learn about the potential
emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to
respond to them at www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/index.html. Further
prepare by learning about emergency plans that have been established in
your area by your state and local government.
The Tennessee Department of Health continues to recruit and register
people across the state to build a network of medical and non-medical
volunteers to support the public health workforce in the event of a
large-scale emergency. TDOH uses the Te
nnessee Volunteer Mobilizer and
regional Medical Reserve Corps units for this purpose. Registered
volunteers will be called to assist with tasks such as dispensing
medications or staffing phone lines if a major public health emergency
should arise. All volunteers will be trained for each assigned task, and
people with all types of skills and/or credentials from doctors and
nurses to general volunteers are needed. To become a volunteer, register
online at http://health.state.tn.us/volunteer/than_volunteer.htm
indicating your volunteer preferences, skills, licenses and
certification. By entering and keeping your contact information current,
you will be automatically notified in the event of an emergency.
National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in
partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. NPM is held
each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare
for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. For more
information about National Preparedness Month, visit
www.ready.gov/america/npm10/index.html.
