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VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
NEWS ADVISORY

Governor Proclaims September “Preparedness Month” in Vermont
Recent Disasters Illustrate Need for Readiness

Governor Jim Douglas has proclaimed September to be Preparedness Month in the state of Vermont.

Disasters can and do happen at any time in Vermont; this has been illustrated several times in just the past 12 months.  Vermont has seen several floods, a train derailment with a hazardous materials spill, and even a tornado over the past year.  Many of these events resulted in evacuations and other protective actions for residents and visitors; actions that are usually unexpected but can be prepared for.

You can’t always avoid disasters, but being prepared can help lessen the affects of these events on you, your family, or your business.  September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide and effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools.  Vermont is taking part in that effort, reminding residents that there are several simple steps they can take to prepare for the unexpected.

Preparing for a disaster can be as simple as buying extra water or batteries during a trip to the grocery store; residents who were cut off from the “outside world” when their driveways or roads were washed out in this summer’s floods did or could have benefitted from having these items on hand, particularly if they had been stranded for an extended period.  Knowing the shortest route and alternate routes to local emergency shelters is also critical; when floods hit Hancock and Ripton in August Route 125 was closed for several days and another route to the shelter in Middlebury was necessary.

These are not the only steps individuals can take to prepare themselves, there are many more one can and should take to ensure safety in a disaster.

1. Get a Kit - Get a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to survive for at least three days in the event an emergency happens. The kit should include basic items like water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight and a first aid kit.  Everything you need to know can be found in the Vermont Emergency Management Family Disaster Preparedness Workbook.  You can download a copy www.vemvt.com, or get a hard copy by calling VEM at (800) 347-0488.
2. Make a Plan - Plan in advance what you and your family will do in an emergency. Your plan should include a communications plan and address sheltering-in-place and evacuation.
3. Be Informed - Learn more about different threats that could affect your community and appropriate responses to them.
4. Get Involved - After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step: get training in first aid and emergency response and get involved in preparing your community.

For more information on Preparedness Month and for more preparedness tips, go to www.ready.gov, or www.vemvt.com.