National Preparedness Month

It’s time to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. September is National Preparedness Month.

Start by taking these simple steps:

First, sign up for Panhandle Alert at panhandlealert.org

📱Download the FEMA app to receive weather alerts, safety tips and reminders

🧰Build your emergency kit over time

💻Check online for free or discounted First Aid and CPR courses

🏠Create an emergency communication plan to record important contact and medical information.

FEMA has a free template here: https://www.ready.gov/plan-form

Also, one of the smartest and most efficient things to do is to follow Panhandle Scanner on Facebook. The Scanner acts as a filter by sharing only the most important information for the community.

It would also be really good to know where local tornado shelters are in case of an emergency. Panhandle Scanner has provided a map and directory.

From Katrina Cerveny, Public Information Officer, NEMA

(LINCOLN, Neb.) —  Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is highlighting how important it is to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

“Nebraska has already experienced multiple significant weather events this year,” said NEMA Assistant Director Erv Portis. “It is crucial to either start now or update your emergency plan with your families during National Preparedness Month.”

Nebraskans should be using this time to communicate with one another and plan. You should have emergency supplies in place at home, at work and in the car. There are resources that can help you and your family get started. Community food banks are a potential resource for food-insecure families to stock their kits.

Emergency kits :                                                   

• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Phone chargers
• First aid kit
• Water
• Non-perishable food for at least three days
• Disinfectant
• Medical information for entire family
• Pet supplies
• Seasonal items such as extra water for hydration and bug repellant in the summer and warm clothes and sleeping bags for winter months

After you have put together or updated your kit, store it in a safe place. Don’t forget to tell your family members where you put it. You can find the entire Family Disaster Preparedness Kit on NEMA’s website. For more preparedness tips throughout the month, follow us on social media.

Family Disaster Preparedness Kit: https://nema.nebraska.gov/assets/files/preparedness/preparedness-kit.pdf

NEMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nema.page

NEMA X (Formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/NEMAtweets