Natural disasters are inevitable and experienced globally. They can occur at any moment, at any place, and at any time. They can injure people, damage property, and sometimes, take lives. Prepared individuals are known to be the most resilient in the face of a natural disaster.
While some disasters, such as hurricanes, have early warning information, other disasters, such as earthquakes, are more unpredictable and unavoidable. The month of September reminds us to do our part to foster a culture of preparedness for ourselves, our families, our workplaces, and the community.
How can we foster a culture of preparedness?
n Understand the types of emergencies likely to occur in your geographic area.
n Participate in awareness drills, if possible.
n Stock up on emergency supplies.
n Heed early warning information.
n Ensure personal documents such as passports, identification cards, and birth certificates are kept in a sealed, secure, and waterproof container.
n Familiarize yourself with your surroundings and know where to find the nearest evacuation routes, emergency exits, and emergency shelters.
n Develop contingencies for charging mobile devices, fueling vehicles, and accessing emergency funds in the event of a widespread power outage.
n Practice continuous risk assessment.
n Make preparedness a priority.
These and other precautionary measures can form the framework of your preparedness plan and help you and your loved ones to be ready for an emergency.
September is set aside each year to heighten awareness of the importance of being prepared. Use the following resources to help develop or augment your plans:
n USPS® National Preparedness page at blue.usps.gov/nationalpreparedness.
n Department of Homeland Security at ready.gov.
n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/disasters/index.html.
Why is it essential that USPS cultivates and fosters a culture of preparedness? Because it makes all of us less vulnerable when disaster strikes.