Make Your Home Disaster Ready For National Preparedness Month

SEATTLE — September is 'National Preparedness Month' and Washington's Emergency Management Division is asking everyone to celebrate by making sure their home is ready for any unforeseen disasters.

One of the easiest first steps, according to the agency, is just talking to your family about what to do in an emergency:

"When a disaster happens, will you know how to reconnect with your family? Planning ahead can reduce your anxiety following a disaster. As part of your family emergency preparedness plan, focus on communication. Every member of the family needs to be involved so that when disaster strikes, everyone will know what to do."

Once you and your family have a general idea of what to do immediately after a disaster like a quake or a tsunami, you'll want to stock up on a few emergency supplies. The Emergency Management Division says that after a disaster you may need to survive on your own, without assistance, for up to two weeks. Relief workers will be dispatched to aid after a quake or other natural disaster, but they can't get to everyone immediately, so having extra survival supplies on hand will help keep you safe.

Gathering all those supplies and getting prepared all at once can be a hassle, so the Emergency Management Division recommends pacing yourself by doing one of the following 12 activities each month:

• Make a communications plan.
• Create an action plan.
• Store water.
• Build grab & go kits.
• Secure important documents.
• Be two weeks ready.
• Learn fire safety.
• Learn utility safety.
• Store under the bed supplies.
• Practice drop, cover and hold on.
• Prepare to shelter in place.
• Conduct a home hazard search.

Emergency Management says each of these steps should take just about an hour each month, and if you do them all, by next September your home will be disaster ready.

>> Read Emergency Management's full Prepare in a Year Guide.

Earthquakes are one of the biggest threats to Puget Sound, so it's also never too early to get ready for the Big One. The Great Washington ShakeOut isn't until next month, but it never hurts to learn to drop, cover, and hold on, or sign up for emergency alerts.