Every September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and City of Houston’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) observe National Preparedness Month, to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. The 2019 theme is “Prepared, Not Scared,” and throughout the month, Houston OEM will be sharing preparedness tips via our websites and social media channels:
Week 1: Save Early for Disaster Costs
Did you know: most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance do not cover flood damage. Learn more about flood insurance at www.FloodSmart.gov and review which important documents you should have for an emergency and how to be financially prepared for a disaster at https://www.ready.gov/
Week 2: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
We are entering the peak of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season! Be Prepared: make an emergency plan today and practice it. The City of Houston Disaster Preparedness Guide (DPG) is updated annually and provides information about emergency planning to Houston residents. The Guide is available in six languages for download:
- English
- Español (Spanish)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- 中文(Chinese)
- العَرَبِيَّة (Arabic)
- Français (French)
Week 3: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
Teach children what to do in an emergency if they are at or away from home. Help your kids know how to communicate during an emergency, build their own preparedness kit, and become Disaster Masters with tips from www.ready.gov/kids.
Week 4: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness
Your neighbors can be a great source of help immediately after a disaster. Get to know your neighbors, particularly those too elderly or too ill to independently plan or prepare themselves for a disaster. By knowing your neighbors ahead of time, your community will work better as a team when disasters strike.
For more information about helping your neighborhood get ready for hurricane season, visit www.houstonoem.org/