FREEHOLD – September is National Preparedness Month and Monmouth County officials are urging families to make a plan, get a kit and be prepared for emergencies.
The website ready.gov suggests some basic steps to make sure you remain safe. The site recommends that family and house members meet; that they discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where they live, learn, work and play; they identify responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team; and , if a family member is in the military, plan how you would respond if they were deployed.
At a minimum, the following items should be in emergency kits:
- Water – 1 gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Food –non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
Additional information is available by contacting the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management at 732-431-7400 or logging onto the county website at www.visitmonmouth.com.
