September is National Preparedness Month
As children return to school, the seasons begin to change, and families settle into new routines. This is an ideal time to think about emergency preparedness. While planning for the months ahead, we should also consider a few simple steps to prepare for unexpected emergencies. Disasters and emergencies are often unpredictable, but being ready can reduce stress, improve safety, and help families respond and recover more quickly.
Connecticut experiences a variety of hazards throughout the year, including hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, extreme heat and cold, poor air quality, and even tornadoes. Public health threats, including communicable disease outbreaks, seasonal flu, and mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses, can also affect our community and require the same level of preparedness. Understanding these hazards and the risks they pose is the first step toward becoming better prepared.
Simple Steps to Preparedness
One of the most helpful things every household can do is develop an emergency plan. Talk with your family about where you will meet if separated, how you will communicate if phone service is interrupted, and what you will do if you need to evacuate or shelter in place. Be sure to include children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and pets in your planning.
Preparedness also means having essential supplies readily available. An emergency kit should include enough food, water, and medications to sustain your household for several days, along with flashlights, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, backup power banks for electronic devices, and supplies for infants or pets, if needed. It is also essential to keep copies of important documents, such as medical records and identification, in a secure location. Finally, consider keeping a battery-powered or hand-crank radio in your kit. During widespread power outages or communication disruptions, these radios can provide lifesaving updates when television, internet, and cellular networks are unavailable. Timely, accurate information helps your family make informed decisions when every minute counts.
Stay Connected with CT Alert
Staying informed before and during an emergency is an important part of preparedness. You can sign up for local emergency notifications by registering for CT Alert, Connecticut’s statewide emergency notification system. This system delivers time-sensitive notifications about severe weather, evacuations, and other public safety incidents by text message, phone call, or email. You can register multiple phone numbers, choose your preferred communication methods, and add additional locations, such as your workplace or your children’s schools, to receive alerts for those areas. To register or learn more, visit the CT Alert website.
5 Things You Can Do Today
✔ Create or update your family emergency plan.
✔ Build or refresh your emergency supply kit.
✔ Register for CT Alert to receive emergency notifications.
✔ Review your medications and organize important documents.
✔ Check in with neighbors, friends, and loved ones before an emergency.
Why Preparedness Matters for Public Health
As your local public health agency, the Farmington Valley Health District (FVHD) encourages all residents to prepare for public health emergencies. Keep routine vaccinations up to date, maintain an adequate supply of medications, and keep an updated list of allergies, medical conditions, prescriptions, and healthcare providers. These simple steps can make a significant difference if access to healthcare services is temporarily disrupted.
At its core, preparedness is about supporting one another. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance consistently demonstrates that communities with strong social connections are better prepared to withstand and recover from disasters. Please take time to check in on family members, neighbors, and friends who may need additional assistance during an emergency, including older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Preparing for emergencies does not need to happen all at once. Use National Preparedness Month as an opportunity to complete one task each week. By the end of September, you could have a family plan, a stocked emergency kit, important documents protected, and the confidence to respond to the unexpected.
To learn more about emergency preparedness and access additional planning resources, visit Ready.gov. If you have questions or would like additional guidance, please feel free to reach out to us at FVHD. We are committed to helping our community prepare for emergencies long before they occur.