Messages - Milton Fire Department - Sussex County, Delaware

National Preparedness Month - September 2010

Make A Plan

Make sure you have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
Family Emergency Plan:

* It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
* Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
* You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

Emergency Information:

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call or emergency workers may go door-to-door.
Emergency Plans:

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance

Click here for information, including a family emergency plan template.
Additional Considerations for Businesses
Plan to Stay in Business

Business continuity planning must account for all hazards (both natural and man-made disasters). You should plan in advance to manage any emergency situation. Assess the situation, use common sense and available resources to take care of yourself, your co-workers and your business's recovery.

* Be Informed: Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your company.
* Continuity Planning: Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally.
* Emergency Planning: Your employees and co-workers are your business's most important and valuable asset.
* Emergency Supplies: Think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.
* Deciding to Stay or Go: Shelter-in-place or evacuate, plan for both possibilities.
* Fire Safety: Fire is the most common of all business disasters.
* Medical Emergencies: Take steps that give you the upper hand in responding to medical emergencies.
* Influenza Pandemic: The federal government, states, communities and industry are taking steps to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.

* Involve Co-Workers: Include people from all levels in emergency planning.
* Practice the Plan: Drills and exercises will help you prepare.
* Promote Preparedness: Encourage your employees and their families to: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed.
* Write a Crisis Communication Plan: Detail how you will be in contact with employees, customers and others during and after a disaster.
* Support Employee Health: People who have experienced a disaster may have special recovery needs.

In addition to emergency planning, there are steps you can take to both safeguard your company and secure your physical assets:

* Insurance Coverage: Policies vary, meet with your provider to review current coverage.
* Utility Disruptions: Prepare for extended outages during and after a disaster.
* Facilities, Buildings and Plants: Take steps to secure physical assets.
* Equipment: Conduct a room-by-room walk-through to determine what needs to be secured.
* Building Air Protection: Assess the HVAC system to improve indoor air quality.
* Cyber Security: Protect your data and information technology systems.