September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security(FCEM&HS) reminds residents to plan and prepare for all hazards and emergencies before they happen. Emergencies can occur anytime and anywhere without advance notice.
This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today” The campaign reminds residents to take part, make a plan, and know what to do during an emergency. This means having an updated contact list for people to reach during a disaster and establishing alternative methods of communication if traditional ones are unavailable. Plan how to stay safe and communicate if a disaster would strike Franklin County.
Residents are encouraged to prepare by following these important steps:
• Be informed about the risks facing Franklin County.
• Develop a plan for your family, community and for your pets.
• Build an emergency supply kit
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Get involved and register for ALERT Franklin County at www.alertfranklincounty.org to receive important information and weather alerts.
“This month provides a timely reminder for all residents in Franklin County to plan ahead and be prepared for any emergency or disaster,” said Michael R. Pannell, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security. “I encourage everyone to register for Franklin County’s Mass Notification and Warning System, ALERT Franklin County to become better prepared, ready to respond and quickly recover from the destructive forces of nature and other emergencies which may affect Franklin County.”
FCEM&HS urges everyone to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and National PrepareAthon Day on September 30, 2015. America’s PrepareAthon! is a national community-based campaign designed to make individuals more aware of which disasters could happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and how to take action to increase their preparedness. To participate, simply register at www.ready.gov/prepare. By joining America’s Prepareathon!, participants commit to taking one concrete step to prepare for a hazard Franklin County may face.
National Preparedness Month was founded after 9/11 to increase preparedness across the United States. The month is sponsored by FEMA’s Ready Campaign in partnership with the Citizen Corps, FEMA’s grassroots strategy to bring together government and community leaders to involve all citizens in emergency preparedness planning.
Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, a local government agency, coordinates county-wide emergency/disaster planning, education, warning, response and recovery.