Are You Ready? September is National Preparedness Month!
According to NSC Injury Facts, In 2023 there were a total of 75,104 weather events reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) resulting in 3,875 injuries and 877 deaths. The top three weather events which caused the most deaths in 2023 were Heat, Wildfire and Tornado. The top three weather events which caused the most injuries in 2023 were Heat, Tornado and Winter Weather. Know the risks in your region and prepare a plan. Talk to your family and your employees, ensure they know their roles in the event of an emergency.
Ready.gov includes helpful information and checklists to assist your family or company to be prepared for a variety of events. Generally, ready.gov recommends the following actions:
Know the hazards in your region: Do you live or work in an area prone to flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, volcanic activity or hurricanes? The appropriate emergency response will depend on the hazard. Other emergencies to consider and prepare for may include chemical releases, civil unrest, and utility disruptions. Talk to your property insurance carrier about the hazards in your region. Many insurers will provide information and resources to help prepare, and your preparation activities could result in lower insurance rates in some areas.
Plan: Once you know the hazards, plan how you would respond to each type of emergency and communicate that plan with your employees and family. For workplaces, OSHA requires a written emergency response plan for companies with more than 10 employees. Ensure everyone knows their role in an emergency and review and update your plan often.
Communicate: A part of any good emergency action plan is communication. How will you communicate the emergency situation and instructions to employees both on site and at home? Designate an individual to ensure that the appropriate communications are sent and act as the primary point of contact for the company. Mass communication tools such as Everbridge can be programmed in advance of an emergency to send out preplanned messages. At home, discuss how family members can contact one another in the event of an emergency. Sign up for weather and community alerts and warnings wherever they are available.
Take measures to prepare (or harden) your home or business: This could include keeping combustible vegetation and debris clear from structures, using noncombustible building materials to minimize wildfire risk, establishing safe means of escape in the event of a fire, securing shelves, cabinets and furniture in the event of an earthquake, investing in a generator for emergency power, or purchasing and installing flood barriers and storm shutters. Keep important documents safe from flood and fire with fire and water rated cabinets and safes. Check with your property insurer for potential rate discounts they may offer if you take certain steps to harden your property against loss.
Train and Practice: train family and employees how to respond in the event of an emergency and hold drills to practice for different types of emergencies. Most areas have fire drills and tornado drills, consider drills for other emergency events as well. In Utah, The Great Shakeout is a day of awareness and drills for earthquake response. At home, practice with the entire family what to do in the vent of various emergencies, including how to safely escape in the event of a fire. Ensure everyone knows the assembly points and communication plan. Know where the evacuation routes are for your buildings, neighborhoods and cities.
Assemble and Maintain Emergency Supplies: At home, work and in your vehicle, ensure you have emergency supplies ready and available. See Ready.gov’s guidance on assembling an emergency supply kit. Kit contents will vary based on hazard, location and application. A basic disaster supplies kit includes the following:
1. Water: One gallon per person per day for several days
2. Food: Several days of non-perishable food (include items such as infant formula and special food for allergy-sensitive individuals)
3. Battery powered or hand crank radio and NOA weather alert radio
4. Flashlight with extra batteries
5. First Aid Kit with prescription and other important medication
6. Whistle or other means to signal for help
7. Dust mask
8. Plastic sheeting, duct tape and scissors (for shelter in place)
9. Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
10. Manual can opener
11. Maps
12. Cell phone with chargers and backup battery
Keep these items in a waterproof container in a duffle bag for grab and go emergencies. Additional items that may also be useful are listed on Ready.gov’s website.
Start a conversation with your family and employees today about emergency preparedness. The time to prepare is before an emergency strikes!
Need workplace training for Emergencies? ClickSafety has several online courses for manufacturing and construction on emergency planning, first aid, and more! Get 15% off any ClickSafety course with promo code SSS15.
Disclosure: Shafer Safety Solutions, LLC participates in an affiliate program with ClickSafety and may receive a commission when the promotion code SSS15 is used to purchase an online course at www.ClickSafety.com.