National Disaster Preparedness Month: 7 Ways to Protect Your Family

Every September, National Disaster Preparedness Month reminds us that emergencies can strike anytime. From hurricanes and wildfires to power grid failures, a few smart moves today can protect your family when it matters most. Use this guide to tighten up your plan and turn preparedness into peace of mind.

7 Smart Steps for National Preparedness Month

• Create a family communication plan: Decide who calls whom, where to meet if separated, and pick an out-of-area contact everyone can text for status updates.
  
  
• Build or refresh your emergency kit: Stock water (1 gallon per person per day), shelf-stable foods, first aid, flashlights, batteries, power bank, whistle, and a battery/crank radio.
  
  
• Secure vital documents: Keep IDs, insurance papers, medical info, and deeds in a waterproof/fireproof pouch; add encrypted digital backups stored in the cloud and on a USB drive.
  
  
• Know your local risks: Check flood maps, wildfire zones, and evacuation routes; save local alert links/apps and sign up for emergency notifications.
  
  
• Practice evacuation & shelter-in-place drills: Run a timed “grab-and-go” with pets, meds, and go-bags; test at least two routes and identify a safe room for sheltering during outages.
  
  
• Review insurance & finances: Confirm coverage for disasters common to your area; set aside emergency cash in small bills and document valuables with photos for claims.
  
  
• Get involved locally: Join or support CERT/community groups, learn basic first aid/CPR, and share preparedness tips with neighbors—strong communities recover faster.

National Preparedness Month Essentials (Quick Checklist)

• Family communication & meetup plan
• Water (minimum 3–7 days per person) & shelf-stable food
• First aid kit, prescriptions, and backup glasses/contacts
• Flashlights/headlamps, batteries, power bank, radio
• Important documents (physical + digital backups)
• Cash in small bills; photo inventory of valuables
• Go-bags for each person & pet; evacuation routes
• Home readiness: shut-off knowledge (gas/water/electric), fire extinguishers, smoke/CO alarms

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Blackout Preppers' mission is to provide supplies and information to help save lives when blackouts, crises, disasters, emergencies, and hazards happen.
Our motto: “Prepare If You Care.”