September is National Preparedness Month, an observance dedicated to educating and preparing communities for emergencies and disasters like severe weather, extended power outage, flooding or fire. Disasters are often sudden and unannounced, and preparation in advance can help protect you, your family and your home. AAA Central Penn is reminding residents of the importance of having an emergency plan, adequate insurance coverage and safety training, because you never know when an emergency may happen.
“Preparation is one of the simplest ways to protect your family, your home and your peace of mind,” said AAA Central Penn Vice President of Insurance Matt Meeks. “National Preparedness Month is a reminder to review your plans, understand your risks, and ensure your insurance coverage still fits your needs. If you’re unsure whether your current coverage adequately protects you against disasters, now is a great time to speak with an insurance professional.”
AAA Central Penn offers these disaster preparedness tips:
- Prepare an emergency plan. Outline a plan that details what each family member will do, how they will get to a safe place, and how they will get in touch with each other. It’s important to also identify an out-of-the-area contact for everyone to call in case local communications are disrupted.
- Pack an emergency kit. Equip your home and vehicle with a well-stocked emergency kit. Include: a flashlight with extra batteries, battery-powered radio, first-aid kit, medicines or prescriptions, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, a blanket, fully charged portable power banks, phone chargers and a whistle to signal for help. Don’t forget supplies for your pet(s) and consider microchipping so if you’re separated, they can be easily identified.
- Create a possession inventory. Create an inventory of all the possessions you would want your insurance company to replace if lost and put copies in a safe place. A home inventory includes taking videos or photos of the possessions and pulling together copies of sales receipts and other documentation. Safe and easily accessible places to store copies of the inventory include online, with friends or family, or in a safe deposit box. It’s important to also review your insurance policies and what is covered under your plan.
- Have important documents on hand. Keep cash and important documents like identification, insurance information, medical records, and emergency contacts organized and in a safe, water and fireproof location that can be easily accessed during an emergency.
- Go through safety training. Being trained in CPR and first aid is critical to helping someone injured or saving a life in case of an emergency.
