Are You Prepared?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is #HereToHelp.

May is International Building Safety Month and each week there is a different focus for awareness. For 2020, this first week's focus is on disaster preparedness.  While each situation is unique, your family can be better prepared if you plan carefully, put emergency procedures in place, and practice for all kinds of emergencies. The following are measures you and your family can take to start getting ready. A commitment to begin planning today will help support your family, home, and the community.

For us, living in the south has its share of disasters:

• Tornado season (peak season) in Alabama ranges from March through May, but they can happen throughout most of the year. Tuscaloosa is considered to have a second season from November to early December. 
• Hurricane season starts June 1st and runs through November 30th. While here in North Alabama we don’t suffer the same damage they do in the Gulf, the feeder bands from large hurricanes can cause flooding for us.
• Winter and Spring seem to be wet seasons for us more often than not lately, and that leads to flooding. Especially with the number of severe thunderstorms that roll through our area during Spring.
• Summer time leads to wildfires. While we may not see the same widespread damage as states like California, they do happen here. 

Be Informed

Do you know what kind of emergencies might affect your home or daily life? Do you know what you and your family will do in an emergency situation?

Prepare Your Emergency Plan

Do you have an evacuation and shelter-in-place plan? Do you have a plan to communicate with your family before, during, and after an incident? Do you have an emergency supply kit?

Practice the Emergency Plan

Have you practiced your plan recently? Does your family know where to go in the event of a natural disaster? Have you reviewed your plans in the last 12 months?

Review Insurance Coverage

Have you reviewed your insurance coverage recently to see if you’re covered in a disaster?

Secure Your Home or Business

Have you conducted a room-by-room walk-through to determine what safety measures can be taken?

Improve Cyber Security

Have you installed a firewall on your computer? Do you regularly update your antivirus software?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, visit ready.gov and learn how to better prepare your family and home for an emergency or natural disaster.