Be prepared: National Preparedness Month tips

As residents of the Midwest, we understand how quickly natural and man-made incidents can occur, underscoring the importance of being prepared. At JCE Co-op, we know that emergencies can strike unexpectedly in the communities we serve. Many of us have seen or experienced tornado outbreaks, river and flash floods, wildfires, smoke, water main breaks and power outages, affecting countless people for days. During these times, police, fire and rescue services might not be able to reach you quickly. The best way to support local responders is by being ready to care for yourself and those around you.

Taking proactive steps today ensures you're prepared for tomorrow's incidents. Preparedness doesn't have to be costly or happen all at once. It's about using what you have to be ready, and you might be more prepared than you think!

Preparedness involves three key steps:

1. Developing an incident response plan.

2. Staying informed about the risks we face.

3. Knowing how to access information during an emergency.

Here are practical, low-cost actions you can take to prepare for future incidents:

• Sign up or update your mobile phone contact information to receive local emergency alerts.

• Enable FEMA Wireless Emergency Alerts on your mobile phone.

• Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes in your area.

• Create a personal emergency plan detailing what to do before, during, and after an incident. Don't forget to include pets and livestock in your plan.

• Practice your emergency plan with everyone in your household and discuss it with extended family, friends, and neighbors.

• Develop and practice a family communication plan. Keep contact information updated and review it regularly.

• Assemble an emergency kit, or go-bag, with two weeks’ worth of food, water, and critical supplies for each person and pet. Include medication, flashlights, extra batteries, and phone chargers. You likely already have many of these items at home. Start small and work toward the two-week supply goal. Regularly reassess your needs and update your kit.

• Make copies of important documents needed to recover after an incident. Store them digitally in the cloud or on a flash drive in a waterproof container with your emergency kit. Documents can also be stored on your mobile phone.

• Check on loved ones and neighbors during severe weather, extreme temperatures, utility outages, or other incidents.

• Consider how you would respond to an emergency in unfamiliar places like the county fair, mall, or while on vacation.

• Volunteer by joining a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

• Older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers should account for individual circumstances and specific needs when planning for emergencies. Establish a support network of people who can assist during an incident.

Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time, and it may take days or even weeks for responders to reach everyone affected. By preparing yourself, you reduce the burden on first responders, allowing them to focus on life-threatening situations and vulnerable individuals. Your preparedness can save lives.

Remember, incidents don’t plan ahead, but you can! Stay safe and prepared!