September is National Preparedness Month, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is encouraging all Hoosiers to take some steps to being prepared for emergencies.
“We’ve witnessed, time and time again, that being better prepared helps in all types of situations,” said John Erickson, state homeland security director of Public Affairs. “As Indiana has seen recently, severe weather can hit hard. Taking a few steps toward readiness can help all of us stay safer during times of emergency.”
Threats of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding and snow are all common in Indiana during various parts of the year. Knowing how to stay prepared in the event of something unexpected can help to keep family members safe, and to minimize the loss of valuable personal items. Here are some tips for Hoosiers to follow during Preparedness Month, and keep in mind year round:
- Make sure everyone at home, work and school knows the safest room to go to during a tornado. Interior rooms with no windows on the lowest level are usually the safest.
- Know how to contact family and friends if land and cell lines are down or damaged. Texting and social media are two ways.
- When at large gatherings, take note of exits and any barriers to a quick and safe exit.
- Talk to family, co-workers and friends about different situations and how each group would handle sheltering in place, evacuating, communication, etc.
Preparedness Month also serves as an appropriate time to prepare an emergency kit. More detailed information regarding emergency kits and readiness plans can be found at GetPrepared.IN.gov.
