September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.
Santa Rosa County Emergency Management is participating in National Preparedness Month during the month of September, an event founded after 9/11 to remember those lost and to increase preparedness in the U.S. National Preparedness Month, now in its eighth year, is a nationwide, month-long effort hosted by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.
To help our community prepare for an emergency, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to visit one of Santa Rosa County ’s five public libraries during the month of September to register for a chance to win a disaster supply kit and to pick up information on how to prepare your home or business. The winner will be notified on October 3. Preparedness information, tips and a calendar of community preparedness events can also be found online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency or www.ready.gov . In addition, emergency management staff are available for presentations to community groups and tours of the emergency operations center are offered to the public. To schedule a presentation or tour, please cal (850) 983-5360 .
National Preparedness Month stresses the need for each individual to be prepared for an emergency by being ready to be self-reliant for three days without electricity, natural gas, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue. Preparing can start with three important steps:
1. Get an emergency supply kit
2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency
3. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Don’t wait until disaster strikes!
