Milford, Stratford Residents: What’s Your Emergency Preparedness Plan?
By Jorge Santiago
In light of the recent hurricanes that have devastated communities from Texas to Caribbean, Americans are taking notice and recognizing the importance of making sure they themselves are prepared in the case of an emergency.
Of course, with Milford and Stratford both on the shoreline, planning for a hurricane should not be out of mind. But the reality is that even a simple, general preparedness plan can help you, and your family, avoid the worst in the event of any type of calamity.
Fortunately, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has issued a set of suggestions to help you establish a preparedness plan that will best suit your family’s needs. Let’s take a look below:
Make a family communication plan
It’s not as easy to shepherd your family to safety if they’re not all at home when disaster strikes. That’s why you need to have a clear plan in place for connecting with each other. This should include completing a contact card for each family member, choosing an emergency contact, knowing the number for local emergency numbers, and also making sure each member of your family knows how to text.
Make a family disaster plan
Different emergencies will warrant different responses. Your family should assess the types of emergencies that are most likely in your neighborhood, and come up with a specific course of action for each. This can include: finding safe spots in your home, choosing multiple meeting places around town, and determining the best escape routes out of your home, neighborhood or the general area.
Get your kids ready
If you become incapacitated yourself, it is vital that your kids know how to appropriately respond to an emergency themselves. Your children should know how (and when) to call 911, and be involved in all your emergency preparedness planning.
Additional steps to get prepared
In addition to preparing with your family, there are several other tips outlined by the CDC that will ensure that your preparedness plan goes off without a hitch. Make emergency kits for both your home and your car. Stay informed on current events in your area. Be sure to have appropriate insurance on your home. Learn about how, why and when to turn off water, gas and electricity at the main shut-offs, and be sure that your whole family knows how to use your fire extinguisher.
Of course, all this planning wouldn’t be complete without practice. Be sure to run an emergency simulation at least once per year to see how ready your family is, and where you can still make improvements. It might seem like a lot of work now, but it can be hard to think straight in an emergency and you don’t want to have to iron out the wrinkles in your plan when there’s an actual dilemma.
To learn more about all the ways that Milford Bank can help you protect your family today, click here or stop by any location of The Milford Bank in Milford or Stratford today.
