Annapolis Officials Encourage People To Be Prepared For Emergency

ANNAPOLIS, MD — September is National Preparedness Month and Annapolis officials encourage residents to be ready for when disaster strikes. This year's theme is Prepared, Not Scared.

"It is our goal to keep all residents and visitors to our city safe in the event of a disaster or severe weather event," said Mayor Gavin Buckley in a statement. "Preparation is the key to minimizing the risk these events pose. Please use this time to get your family prepared and check in on vulnerable neighbors to make sure they have what they need."

Keith Simmons, director of the office of emergency manager for the city, suggested people put together emergency kits.

“Be sure to prepare your family for a variety of disasters,” Simmons said in a statement. “A core emergency kit goes a long way, and remember to add seasonal items to protect against extreme heat, cold and other events that can threaten health and property.”

The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management recommends the following four steps to plan and prepare well in advance of a disaster.

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these four questions with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.

• How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
• What is my shelter plan?
• What is my evacuation route?
• What is my family communication plan?

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household.

• Different ages of members within your household.
• Responsibilities for assisting others.
• Dietary needs.
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment.
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment.
• Cultural and religious considerations.
• Pets or service animals.
• Households with school-aged children.

Step 3: Complete a family emergency plan

• There are a number of family emergency plans readily available online.
• There are a number of plan templates at https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Step 4: Practice the plan with your family/household

• Once you have developed a plan for your family, test your plan to make sure what you write down works. Testing your plan allows you to see what works well and what can be changed before a real emergency.

Residents with functional needs and who might need assistance during a disaster should contact the department to be registered on the city's special assistance roster, which will allow the department the ability to check on a person's welfare before, during and after an emergency event.