September is Preparedness Month, a time to focus on planning, preparing, and protecting your family and community in the event of an emergency. Whether it's natural disasters, power outages, or unexpected crises, being prepared can make all the difference. This month, let's take proactive steps to ensure we're Buncombe Ready for whatever comes our way.
1. Create an Emergency Plan
Start by creating an emergency plan for your household. Know the specific risks in your area, such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, or power outages and how to respond to each. Consider the following:
- How to contact each other: Establish a way to stay in touch if separated during an emergency. Make sure everyone knows how to send and receive texts, which often work when phone lines are down.
- Meeting Points: Identify safe locations where family members can meet if evacuation is necessary—one near your home and one outside your neighborhood.
- Emergency Contacts and Numbers You Need: Compile a list of essential contacts, including family members, local emergency services, and out-of-town contacts who can provide valuable information.
2. Build an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit can sustain you and your family in the first 72 hours following a disaster. Your kit should include:
- Water: One gallon per person per day for at least three days.
- Non-perishable Food: Enough to last at least three days per person.
- Medications: A supply of essential prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
- First Aid Supplies: Bandages, antiseptics, and other first-aid items.
- Pets & Special Needs: Consider food or arrangements for animals as well as specific medical supports that might be needed during a power outage or other emergency.
- Tools and Supplies: Flashlights, batteries, a multi-tool, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- Personal Items: Extra clothing, blankets, hygiene products, and important documents.
3. Stay Informed & Understand the Various Alerts in Your Area
Information is power in an emergency. Stay informed by:
- Signing Up for Alerts: Subscribe to BC Alerts (or your municipal mass notification system) to receive timely information about potential hazards in your community. You can also opt in for weather alerts through the National Weather Services.
- Buncombe County will communicate risks and hazards to our community through texts, website, and social as well as through our media partners. The County will provide information on high heat alerts, air quality alerts, flooding and weather hazards, wildfires and burn bans, Code Purple, and public health threats through these platforms.
- Practicing Emergency Drills: Regularly practice your emergency plan with all household members so everyone knows what to do in various scenarios.
4. Get Involved and Create Networks
Preparedness is a community effort. Consider the following ways to contribute:
- Support Vulnerable Populations: Assist elderly neighbors or those with disabilities in preparing for emergencies.
- Check with Friends and Family: Being prepared to take care of yourself and your family in an emergency is part of a larger effort towards community resilience and builds a culture of preparedness. Being a leader in preparedness is an important way to contribute to your community’s overall ability to weather severe events.
Preparedness Month is a reminder that emergencies can happen at any time. By planning ahead, building an emergency kit, staying informed, and getting involved, you can protect yourself and your loved ones. Take the time this month to assess your preparedness and make necessary improvements—because when it comes to emergencies, it's always better to be Buncombe Ready.
If your neighborhood association, civic group, or organization would like to schedule a specific preparedness learning and engagement opportunity, contact stacey.wood@buncombecounty.org.