FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 10, 2014) -- September is National Preparedness Month and Fort Benning is spreading the word in effort to keep the community safe when disaster strikes.
Terry Wydra, Fort Benning's installation emergency manager, said whether the disaster is a tornado or severe storm, wildfire or a terrorist hazard, all residents should take advantage of early preparation.
"This month is all about getting the word out and making sure people are prepared," he said. "We will have disaster preparedness banners posted throughout the installation, information display tables at the PX and commissary and giveaways going to various units to make this a community wide campaign."
As part of the Ready Army program, Soldiers, Families, and civilians are encouraged to take action through its four tenets: Be informed, make a plan, built a kit and get involved.
Be informed
Fort Benning uses a mass warning and notification system to reach the community in the event of a potential emergency, which includes outside sirens, voice and data messages sent by telephones, cell phones and email. A test warning is conducted the every Saturday at noon.
"We have a lot of new Soldiers and Family members assigned to the installation and we want to make sure they are prepared," Wydra said. "Those coming from installations in different parts of the country may not be used to threats like tornadoes and severe lightning and we want them to be aware."
Make a plan
According to the Ready Army website, Families should have an emergency plan. Plans should consider the range of potential emergencies and all the places you and your Family might be. Choose a contact person, a Family member or friend living somewhere else whom you can all contact in the case of an event. Plan for all hazards that could affect your Family, considering potential hazards and weather patterns in your region and how to respond.
"This shouldn't be dedicated to just one month, but practiced throughout the year," Wydra said.
Build a kit
To prepare for an emergency, get one or more emergency kits that include enough supplies to meet your essential needs. Wydra said Families should prepare a home emergency kit that will sustain them for 72 hours.
"First responders will get you as soon as they can, but you have to prepared to take care of yourself and assist your neighbors until they do," he said.
Suggested basic items to consider for a kit include:
•Water - at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days
•Food - nonperishable food for at least three days, consider items that do not require cooking and will maintain freshness for several months such as energy bars, freeze dried foods and dehydrated foods
•Formula and diapers for infants
•Food, water, other supplies and documents for pets
•Manual can opener
•Flashlight, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration battery-powered weather radio, battery-powered cell phone charger and extra batteries
•First aid kit and prescription medications
•Sanitation supplies such as moist towelettes, disinfectant and garbage bags
•Important documents in watertight packaging - personal, financial and insurance - store copies in a separate location (safety deposit box, relatives, or trusted friend)
•A Family emergency plan, local maps and your command reporting information
•5-gallon bucket with plastic bags for use as a portable toilet
•Cash in small denominations
For more information, visit www.acsim.army.mil/readyarmy.
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