September 23, 2021
"HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NOTES NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH"
CAPTION FOR ATTACHED PHOTO:
Staff from the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) man and work their current Drive-Up Mass Covid-19 Testing and Vaccination Site at 110 N. Burr Blvd., Kewanee. The site is open Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm. This mobile testing and vaccination site is just one of the multitude of emergency preparedness and response activities the Health Department and OEM conduct daily. The Health Department and OEM are noting September’s designation as National Emergency Preparedness Month.
RELEASE:
The Henry & Stark County Health Departments and Henry County Office of Emergency Management note that this September we mark the 20th year anniversary of 9/11. Since then, September has been designated as National Preparedness Month. This event was founded after 9/11 to increase preparedness in the U.S. RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion, states, "The designation is a nationwide, month-long effort that encourages individuals, families, businesses, and communities to work together and take action to prepare and plan for emergencies."
This year's effort has a growing coalition of more than 2,700 national, regional, state, and local organizations pledging support. The goal for National Emergency Preparedness Month 2021 is to encourage all Americans to take active steps toward getting involved and becoming prepared. Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year's National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan.
Tucker adds, "This year's theme for National Preparedness Month's is ‘Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.’ Each week in September, the campaign will focus on a different aspect of preparedness for individuals, families and communities.”
Week 1, September 1-4: Make a Plan – Talk to you friend and family about how you will communicate before, during and after a disaster. Make sure to update your plan based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to coronavirus.
Week 2 September 5-11: Build a Kit – Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. Update your kits and supplies based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control.
Week 3 September 12-18: Low Cost, No-Cost Preparedness – Limit impacts that disasters have on you and your family. Know the risk of disasters in your area. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards. Check your insurance coverage to make sure it is up-to-date.
Week 4 September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness – Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.
Tucker concludes, "National Preparedness Month is a good reminder that emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help us minimize the impact they will have on our lives. That's why the Health Department and OEM staff is continually taking steps to become educated, trained, and better prepared, and we urge you to take time this month to do the same."
For more information on the Health Department's Emergency Preparedness visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or visit www.ready.gov. or find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Department. Funding for this program was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
