With September being National Preparedness Month, the important tips the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) (nema.nebraska.gov) highlighted about being prepared for disasters and emergencies can still be applied all year round.
“Nebraska has already experienced multiple significant weather events this year,” said NEMA Assistant Director Erv Portis. “It is crucial to either start now or update your emergency plan with your families during National Preparedness Month.”
Nebraskans should be using this time to communicate with one another and plan. You should have emergency supplies in place at home, at work and in the car. There are resources that can help you and your family get started. Community food banks are a potential resource for food-insecure families to stock their kits.
Emergency kits should include:
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Phone chargers
- First aid kit
- Water
- Non-perishable food for at least three days
- Disinfectant
- Medical information for entire family
- Pet supplies
- Seasonal items such as extra water for hydration and bug repellant in the summer and warm clothes and sleeping bags for winter months.
After you have put together or updated your kit, store it in a safe place. Don’t forget to tell your family members where you put it. You can find the entire Family Disaster Preparedness Kit on NEMA’s website, nema.nebraska.gov/assets/files/preparedness/preparedness-kit.pdf.