
Be Prepared! National Preparedness Month Activities Can Help Ensure Your Household is Ready for Any Emergency
National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As we continue to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved this September.
This year’s theme is: “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” And there are weekly themes to help you better prepared.
Week 1 – Sept. 1-5: Make A Plan
Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during and after a disaster. Make sure to update your plan based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to the coronavirus.
Week 2 – Sept. 6-12: Build A Kit
Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. Update your kits and supplies based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control.
Week 3 – Sept. 13-19: Prepare for Disasters Limit the impacts that disasters have on you and your family. Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert.
Week 4 – Sept. 20-26: Teach Youth About Preparedness
Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.

Preparedness In Fairfax County
The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will also be busy during National Preparedness Month, providing a lot of informational resources and education for the community, webinars for county employees and sharing preparedness tips on Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, OEM has produced a guidebook to help residents prepare for any type of emergency in Fairfax County - The Community Emergency Response Guide. The guide includes information on a variety of emergency preparedness topics, including, making a family preparedness template, an emergency kit checklist, and templates for recording emergency contact information. The guide is available online in multiple languages. Download yours today!
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