by Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management | August 31, 2017
Every September since 2004, National Preparedness Month has served as a reminder to be ready for disasters.
Emergencies are unexpected and mother-nature can be less than predictable. A natural or human-caused disaster can affect where you live, work or visit. Being prepared can help you and your community through an emergency.
This year’s #NatlPrep theme is “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”
So, what can you do?
Make a plan today and help spread the word about emergency preparedness at home, work, business, school, and place of worship.
Take steps now:
- Get emergency alerts.
- Have what you need to shelter-in-place or evacuate.
- Create a communications and household emergency plan.
Emergency Information
Stay informed by following city social media accounts @PhiladelphiaGov @PhilaOEM @PhillyPolice @PhillyFireDept @PHLPublicHealth
Sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia, the city’s emergency notification system. Get important weather and emergency info through free text, email or phone calls.
You can sign up in two ways:
- Text ReadyPhila to 888-777 to get emergency and weather info text alerts to your phone.
- Select your interests on ReadyPhiladelphia’s website to get text or emails for multiple locations. Choose your SEPTA routes for delay and service interruptions, or select notifications from the Philadelphia Prison system or PES Refinery.
Communications Plan
Don’t rely on memory. Write down what your family will do when there is an emergency, or use the emergency contact form to record important contact details.
Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
Household Emergency Plan
Consider the needs of everyone in your household. Seniors, kids, access and functional needs, and pets. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in your network of family, friends, and neighbors can assist with communication, care of children, business, pets, or specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment.
Fill out a health information form for anyone with medical conditions, special needs, or prescription medications.
Keep your important documents safe. If your paper files and personal computer are lost or damaged in a fire, flood, or other emergency, your personal information, bank statements, and insurance records could be destroyed. Make copies of ID, social security cards, passports, banking, and insurance documents. Take photos and store digitally or put them in you Go Bag or water-proof Shelter-in-Place kit.
Give yourself an insurance check up. The cost of flood insurance can be a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of flood damage. Make sure you have enough homeowners or renter’s insurance for your residence. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for it,
Shelter-in-Place and Evacuation
If you are told to evacuate, you will have to leave your home quickly. You should decide what you will need to take with you in your Go Bag.
If you are asked to shelter-in-place, conditions require you to seek protection in your home, place of employment or other location when disaster strikes. Having a 3 day supply of non-perishable food and water are just part of building your Shelter-in-Place kit. If you’re told to stay where you are during an emergency, being prepared will help you and your family.
Practice and Test
Make sure to practice your plan at home. Have fire drills, make sure you use different exits every time you practice. Practice getting to your emergency meeting places and make sure everyone knows how to get there.
Know the Fire Safety Rules and develop a Fire Escape Plan with help from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Test your smoke alarm. Nationally, three of five fire deaths do not have a working smoke detector in the home. Don’t have one and can’t afford it? The Philadelphia Fire Department has one for free. Contact Philly 3-1-1.