September is National Preparedness Month and the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services (SacOES) would like to remind residents about the importance of being prepared for the various disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
The theme of the 2023 National Preparedness Month is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3," and the campaign focuses on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events that continue to threaten the nation.
“National Preparedness Month is a great time to talk with your loved ones about the types of disasters and emergencies we might face and start making a plan to prepare for these situations," said Mary Jo Flynn-Nevins, Sacramento County Chief of Emergency Services. “It is especially important to talk to the older adults in your life because they often face greater risk when it comes to emergencies and extreme weather events, especially if they live alone or in more rural areas."
Older adults and their caregivers can overcome these potential obstacles and increase their resilience by taking control in 1, 2, and 3.
- Assess your needs. If you have medications that need refrigeration, rely on mobility or assistive devices, or have a pet, you'll need to understand how these variables will factor into what you'll need to stay safe in a disaster or emergency.
- Make a plan. Once you assess your needs, you can tailor your plans to make sure your needs are met. This can include building a kit that includes extra medication, having a way to store medications in an emergency and planning for your pets or service animals. If you're an older adult or work with and support older adult communities visit Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores for resources.
- Engage your support network. Reaching out to family, friends and neighbors can help you build a support network that can support you before, during and after a disaster or emergency. Share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your group, including a friend or relative in another area who would not be impacted by the same emergency who can help if necessary. Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster. Make sure that someone in your personal support network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies. Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your personal support network.
To learn more about National Preparedness Month, visit the ReadyGov website. To learn more about the organization that coordinates the overall Sacramento Countywide response to large-scale incidents and disasters, visit the SacOES website.