National Preparedness Month - Be truly ready!

This from MTFR Chief Colin Altman:

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), a nationwide effort encouraging people to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. While this year is the sixth NPM, it is the first time that Miami Township Fire-Rescue is joining the campaign.

NPM 2009 is focusing on changing perceptions about emergencies and helping people understand what it truly means to be ready. Being ready goes beyond smoke detectors, fire alarms and extra food in the pantry. Being ready means knowing what specific items to include in disaster preparedness kits. Being ready means meeting with household or business members and writing emergency plans for the different types of incidents that can affect your home or community.

Last September’s wind storm demonstrated how critical being ready is. Many Village and Township residents were ill-prepared to spend several days without power and deal with the issues the storm brought. “Being prepared in your home or business is critical,” states MTFR Fire Chief Colin Altman. “To be prepared, get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.”

To help residents and businesses to be ready, MTFR has recently released its Emergency Preparedness Guide. This free guide, developed by the fire department, provides information on developing a disaster plan, making an emergency supply kit, and preparing for different types of emergencies. The guide is available for download from MTFR’s website www.mtfr.org and from the Yellow Springs Police Department’s website at www.yso.com. Residents and businesses can visit www.ready.gov for additional preparedness information and resources.

For more information, contact Chief Colin Altman at 767-7842.