September is Preparedness Month

September is Preparedness Month and Tanna McKeon, Green County Emergency Management Director, encourages everyone to take time now to prepare before disaster strikes.
Green County was impacted by several tornadoes and flooding this year, which caught many people off guard without extra water, food and alternate power sources. We are also seeing the ravages of the hurricanes that hit Texas, Louisiana and now the Eastern Coast. None of us know exactly when a disaster will strike. But there are many simple, inexpensive ways you can build an emergency kit and plan for you and your family. Green County Emergency Management has emergency plan templates that you can easily fill out with your contacts and with other important information. They are provided in plastic envelopes that have magnets on the back so you can keep it handy on your refrigerator. Two different plans are available: a family plan and a plan for a person who lives alone or has special needs. GCEM provides these plans free of charge, to get yours call (608) 328-9416.
Communication during a disaster can be very difficult. Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin’s Adjutant General and Homeland Security Advisor, also stresses the importance of developing a family emergency plan. “Everyone should have a plan that includes information on where to go during an emergency and how to communicate with loved ones if separated in a crisis.”
Consider text messaging during an emergency. Often times in a disaster, phone service may be overwhelmed and unavailable. Cell phone text messages may still get through because they take less bandwidth to send and receive messages. Also, calling long distance may be easier than making a local call. Ask a friend or family member to be your “out of town” contact. During an emergency, you can contact that person to let them know you are ok and that they can share that information with your family.
What you can do now to help later:
Put together an emergency kit focusing on specific needs in your household, such as prescription medications, pet needs, and items for your children.
Keep an emergency kit in your car, especially during the winter months when you could become stranded in a storm.
Keep some cash in your emergency kit.
Review existing insurance policies - know what your deductible is and know for certain what is or isn’t covered.
Save copies of important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, and tax statements in a safety deposit box or secure digital storage.
For more information, call Green County Emergency Management at (608) 328-9416, and many tips are being posted on our Facebook page and website at http://greencountyem.com.