September 11, 2008 - September is National Preparedness Month … are you prepared?

Article by Bill & Janet Liebsch appeared in The Homeland Security Foundation of America's 09/11/2008 "Awareness: Journal of Public Safety Studies in America" publication
 
Today marks the 7^th anniversary of 9/11 reminding us that terrorist attacks are still a possible threat to our nation and our way of life. The thought of a chemical, biological or nuclear attack on our soil can be overwhelming, but we need to acknowledge the threats exist and prepare ourselves for the unexpected.

But also keep in mind, a terrorist attack is a very low risk possibility. More common disasters that affect families and businesses year round are things like earthquakes, chemical spills forcing evacuations, fires, floods, power outages and injuries.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated September as National Preparedness Month to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action, make a plan and prepare for emergencies.

Planning is a fact of every day life. We plan and make lists for our chores, the kids’ activities, shopping trips and vacations. But when it comes to planning for a disaster, many of us don’t do it. A recent study by The Ad Council found "91% of Americans say it is important to be prepared for emergencies but only 55% have actually taken steps to prepare".

Unfortunately disaster preparedness is often thought of moments before or immediately following some sort of crisis or emergency. For example, how many times have you seen images of people stocking up on water, can goods and batteries just before the hurricane comes ashore? It’d be easier (and cheaper) to purchase things in advance and have them in a kit with other supplies. And yes, planning for something that may never happen is hard … but what if something does happen? Are you and your loved ones prepared?

For 9 years our company has quietly been helping the country prepare with our book called "IT’S A DISASTER! …and what are YOU gonna do about it?" The 284-page reference manual helps families and businesses prepare for and respond to most types of emergencies, first aid needs, and natural or man-made disasters (including Terrorism).

We’ve worked with many government agencies, businesses and nonprofits to get hundreds of thousands of copies into the public’s hands. But this information needs to be in every home and business in America. We believe if more people would take responsibility and learn what to do in advance ~ it could alleviate a lot of problems, anxiety and loss.

Some important things you can do for National Preparedness Month include: