04Jan / 2023

Resolve to Be Ready, Part II

A calendar with the year 2023 circled in red marker.

January is the time many of us make resolutions for the new year. Sometimes resolutions feel too big and long drawn out. As a result, our motivation to see them through can peter out before the end of the year.

Last year, we suggested 12 micro-resolutions to help you prepare your health for emergencies. Here are a dozen more ways to resolve to be ready this year.

January

Be prepared to prevent data loss. Data loss happens more often than you might think.

This month’s micro-resolution is to back up your important files. These include medical records, financial documents, family photos, and emails. Save at least one extra copy of your files to an external storage device or the cloud. This ensures you can still access the information if the original is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

February

February is National Canned Food Month. Canned goods are an emergency preparedness staple. And for good reason. They are reasonably affordable, require little to no preparation, and have a long shelf life.

As often as people buy and cook with canned goods, some can find food labels confusing. This month’s micro-resolution is to improve your food label literacy. One way to do that is to get the FoodKeeper app to help you maximize the freshness and quality of the items in your emergency food supply.

March

Severe weather, including tornadoes, can happen at any time of year. They are, however, more likely to happen in most places during the spring months(1)

This month’s micro-resolution is to take a SKYWARN® Storm Spotter Program class. You’ll learn:

Basics of thunderstorm development
Fundamentals of storm structure
Identifying potential severe weather features
Information to report
How to report information
Basic severe weather safety

Classes are free and open to the public.

Storm spotters are volunteers. They help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

April

April is National Financial Literacy Month.

Developing a habit of putting money aside—even if it is a small amount—is the easiest way to develop an emergency fund and build financial resiliency. Without savings, the financial shock of an emergency could affect you, your family, and your community.

This month’s micro-resolution is to download and fill out the “Your Disaster Checklist” (available in multiple languages). Use it to help you keep track of account numbers, valuables, medical information, and more.

May

May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day. Effective handwashing is a practical skill that you can easily learn, teach to others, and use every day to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.

This month’s micro-resolution is for parents and caretakers. Teach the children in your care when and how to wash their hands.

June

June is Pet Preparedness Month. It’s also the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. What better time of year to practice evacuating with your pet:

Train your pets to get in and stay in their carriers by making it a comfortable place.
Take your pets for rides in a car like one you would evacuate in.
Know where your pet might hide when stressed or scared. Practice catching your pet, if needed.

Have your entire family practice evacuating with your pets so everyone knows what to take, where to find the pets, and where to meet.

July

Most locations in the contiguous United States will experience their hottest day of the year between July 15-31.(2) Hot weather—regardless of when it happens and how long it lasts—can cause heat-related illness.

This month’s micro-resolution is to learn the symptoms of heat-related illness what to do if someone shows signs of heat stroke, exhaustion, or cramps.

August

August 20 is National Radio Day. Radio is one of many ways you can stay informed before, during, and after an emergency. Other ways include local television, social media, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).

WEAs look like text messages. They are designed to get your attention with a unique sound and vibration repeated twice. This month’s micro-resolution is to check the settings on your mobile device to make sure you are receiving WEAs.

September

September is not just National Preparedness Month. It is also National Self-Care Awareness Month. Emergencies, including disease outbreaks and natural disasters, can cause increased stress. You and others might feel fear, anxiety, and other strong emotions. It’s important to take care of your family and friends, but it should be balanced with care for yourself.

This month’s micro-resolution is to find one small way each day to care for yourself. Yours might include:

connecting with friends and family. Talking with people you trust about your feelings and concerns can relieve stress.
showing kindness to others. According to researchers, helping others release hormones that boost your mood and wellbeing
practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing exercises. Relaxation techniques can help slow your breathing, lower blood pressure, and reduce muscle tension and stress.

October

October is Health Literacy Month. People need information they can find, understand, and use to make the best decisions for their health every day. The same is true during an emergency when there’s usually an increase in the amount of information and speed at which it comes out.

One thing you can do to improve your health literacy is to ask questions of healthcare professionals. For example, your pharmacist is trained to help you manage and improve your health every day. They can give you patient-centered answers to questions on many topics, including emergency preparedness. Ask your pharmacist these questions the next time you visit the pharmacy.

November

Winter is coming. It may arrive in some parts of the country before the month end.

This month’s micro-resolution is to prepare your car for winter. Now is a good time to equip your vehicle with a roadside emergency kit. Winterize your ride with the following items:

Food and water
Ice scraper and a folding shovel
A flashlight and batteries
Car and portable chargers for your cellphone
First-aid supplies
Winter clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags
Road flares
Jumper cables

December

December is Hi Neighbor Month. Neighbors can be an important source of assistance in the hours, days, and weeks after an emergency. Because they live close—maybe even next door—neighbors might be your first and best option for help after a tornado or during a power outage.

This month’s micro-resolution is to find a way to get involved with your neighbors. Ways to get involved include

offering to help your neighbors, especially people who are older, live alone or with a disability, or rely on electricity-dependent equipment, prepare for emergencies.
involving trusted neighbors in your emergency action planning.
joining an organization active in disaster, such as your local Medical Reserve Corps Unit or Community Emergency Response Team.

Resources

Public Health Matters: Resolve to Be Ready
Resolve to be Ready Social Media Toolkit (FEMA)

References

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

27Jan / 2022

Local CERTs Offer a Way to Get Involved in Your Community

A man in a green vest and hat directs traffic in parking lot.

This student-authored post is published by CPR in partnership with Medill News Service and the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of CPR or CDC.

When a 10-year-old girl went missing from her home in the middle of the night on July 23, 2021, her parents called the police.

The next morning, the Canton (Mich.) Police Department mobilized the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to help find the child. She was found safe later that day.

William Hayes, the emergency management coordinator for the Canton Public Safety Department, calls CERT “a force multiplier.” CERT volunteers support Canton police on different nonviolent and noncriminal missions like in 2004 when local cell towers broke down. While repair crews fixed the towers, team members developed a system of communication using handheld radios. They used the radios to stay connected with each other and informed of the crews’ progress.

In the case of the missing girl, the combined force of CERT volunteers and police officers were able to search further, wider, and faster than the police could’ve done alone. Jeff Grand, who works full-time at a local bank and joined CERT three years ago to get involved in his community, estimates he and his partner knocked on hundreds of doors that morning.

The response capabilities of CERTs frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

CERT volunteers complete hours of basic training and education on how to respond to various emergencies. Their training includes learning practical skills, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Volunteers also get hands-on practice putting out a fire, using a jack to lift a car, and searching for missing persons. More than 600,000 people, including the 100 members of the Canton CERT, have completed training since CERT started.

All volunteers receive the same training regardless of their location. This approach makes it easier for CERTs to work together in times of need, such as when tornadoes hit Southeast Michigan in June 2021.

The extreme weather event did little damage in Canton. Neighboring towns like Dearborn, Michigan, faced more challenges. Canton CERT–one of about 20 programs in and around Metro Detroit–turned out to help their neighbors, many of whom struggled with power outages and flooding.

The COVID-19 response has created the need for volunteers to staff local testing and vaccine distribution sites around Wayne County, Michigan. Volunteers who are medically trained help administer vaccines.

Grand has spent the better part of his CERT career registering people at vaccination sites. Thousands of people received vaccines at these sites.

Hayes wants more people to join Canton CERT. He believes the stronger the CERT program in a community, the more resilient the community.

The first CERT was established in Los Angeles, California, in 1985 by the city’s fire department. It became a national program in 1993. Today there are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide.

Visit the CERT website to find a team near you and to download basic training materials.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

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07May / 2020

✚ Tornado Lines – Useful or Not? (The Process 088)

It looks like a tornado. It's messy. It's circular. It almost looks intentionally confusing. But how bad is it really? Read More

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26Mar / 2017

5 Spring Safety Tips Brought to You By Adorable Animals

golden retriever dog and puppy in a puddle with umbrella

Spring is in the air, and that means warmer weather, blooming flowers…and the potential for extreme weather conditions! Some of our favorite animals remind us of what steps we can take to keep ourselves safe if bad weather strikes.

Don’t let floods, thunderstorms, or tornadoes take you by surprise this season. Keep these 5 weather safety tips in mind: Young puppy listening to music on earphones.

1. Stay informed – get a weather radio.

The National Weather Service continuously broadcasts warnings and forecasts that can be received by NOAA weather radios.

Know what to Listen For!

Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to know when warnings are issued.
Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar.

2. When thunder roars, go indoors.

Take thunderstorms seriously. Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen and the risk of serious injury or death is severe.

If there are storms in your area, find a safe, enclosed shelter.
The main lightning safety guide is the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away.

3. Turn around, don’t drown®.

Don’t underestimate the power and force of water. Remember, it’s never safe to drive or walk into any kind of flood waters.

Just six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet. If flowing water is above your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another way.
If you’re caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
Danger can lurk in the water: downed power lines or other debris may not be easily visible. If you see a downed power line, move at least ten feet away from it – or anything touching it. If you’re driving and your car comes in contact with a downed power line, stay in your car.

4. Beware of flying objects.

Falling and flying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado.

Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway).
Avoid windows.
For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress. Protect your head with anything available.

5. Prepare for everywhere.

Make a kit for home, and one for the road.

For home, keep a three day supply of food and water:
- One gallon of water per person per day (a family of four should keep 12 gallons of water).
- Foods that are easy to make and won’t spoil, like canned soup, dry pasta, and powdered milk.
- Don’t forget a manual can opener and basic utensils to prepare and serve meals!
For your car:
- Personal items like medications and emergency phone numbers.
- Check the kit regularly. Make sure the flashlight batteries work.
- Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date items.

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26Sep / 2016

How to Be Smart (About Preparedness)

Dramatic sky in contrast with the afternoon sun on a November afternoon in Limburg, the Netherlands

Emergencies are everywhere: from floods to flu, tornadoes to terrorists… How do you prepare for all of it?

Trying to prepare for every possibility can seem impossible. But you can be smart about preparing for the emergencies and situations you are most likely to experience. Start by looking around at where you live, the people in your life, and the places you go on a day-to-day basis. Ask yourself questions, then figure out what steps you can take.

For example:

Are you living in tornado alley? Pick a safe place in your home to take shelter.
Do you work in a large office building? Know how to evacuate during a fire.
Do you travel often? Make a kit with prescription and over-the-counter medicines, your health insurance cards, and copies of your prescriptions.
Do you have children? Make a plan with them about where to meet up if you are separated.
Do you have a loved one with diabetes? Have a plan if they run out of insulin or if they have low blood sugar.
Do you have pets? Make sure your emergency plan includes them, too.

Emergencies come in all different shapes and sizes. We often hear about preparedness in the context of natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks, but preparedness is also about getting your flu shot every year and wearing your seatbelt when you drive. Preparedness is knowing what to do if your child starts choking or how to help if your coworker has a seizure.

Preparedness also means reaching out to those around you. Do you know someone with a disability who may need extra help when evacuating during an emergency? Are there elderly people living in your neighborhood who are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat?

Of course, something unusual can always happen. (After all, who would have anticipated Snowpocalypse 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia?) But in preparing for the most likely situations, you may find yourself better prepared for the unexpected.

Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

Read our other National Preparedness Month blogs:

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13Aug / 2014

Mental Health and Recovery

Hospital Damage in Joplin

By: Dennis Cooley, MD, FAAP

Joplin, Missouri was devastated by an F5 tornado in 2011. Heart to Heart International set up a clinic in a Walgreens parking lot near the hardest hit area to care for injured volunteers. The clinic provided medical care on a walk-in basis. Dr. Dennis Cooley worked in the clinic three weeks after the storm hit the town.

Many of the patients who came to the clinic were volunteers injured during cleanup efforts. The clinic’s staff also provided follow up care of wounds from victims of the tornado, as well as other patients with chronic illnesses who needed refills for medications that had run out or been lost in the chaos of the storm.

Managing patient care was a challenge. Clinic staff was unable to access primary care physicians, medical records, or prescription information. Post-storm, many patients were homeless and living in tents in the Joplin area with no money. “Trying to manage these patients without medical records, without homes, and without money was extremely difficult as you can imagine,” said Dr. Cooley.

Amidst all the chaos, Dr. Cooley recalls one patient experience that stands out most clearly.. A woman walked into the reception area minutes before the clinic closed for the day. She didn’t have an injury or illness. Across the street from the clinic parking-lot was a residential district that had suffered significant damage. A close friend of the woman had died in a home within view of the clinic. When she had driven by her friend’s destroyed house she was overwhelmed by emotions and became distraught. She didn’t know what to do or where to go. When she saw the clinic, she pulled in and stopped. One of nurses took her inside, gave her a cup of coffee and just listened. For forty five minutes, she listened. Eventually, after the woman calmed down, she was able to drive home.

“Did we help this woman? Yes, I think so. Did we do all we could have done? Yes and no. Just by listening and letting her verbalize her feelings, we were able to help her. However, I can’t help but think that we could have done more for this woman, if we had the training and been prepared for the psychological first aid for the survivors,” Cooley reflects.

Being well versed in the psychological effects of a disaster is critical for first responders and caregivers. Rarely will someone walk into a clinic looking for help like the woman in Joplin. Instead, health professionals must watch for the signs of post-traumatic stress in adults and children, just as they look for the physical injuries.

Dr. Cooley’s experience reminds us that disaster management is more than taking care of children and families during the first 48 hours, or even the first week after the event. “Patient care extends after the news cameras have left”, says Cooley. “It is performing follow up services, it is providing care to volunteers who have come to the area to work on clean up, and it is taking care of the psychological aftermath of the disaster.” Although these are not glamorous roles, they are definitely just as important.

Read more about psychological first aid and coping with disaster.

This blog post was provided courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Dr. Dennis Cooley. Dennis M. Cooley MD is a general pediatrician who has been in private practice in Topeka, Kansas for over 30 years. He is on staff at Stormant Vail Regional Health Center and is a volunteer Clinical Instructor with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Cooley is active in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and is the Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the AAP’s Kansas Chapter.

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19Jun / 2014

Prep Rally Brings Preparedness Spirit to Moore, Oklahoma

In May 2013, deadly tornadoes swept Moore, Oklahoma, destroying homes and the very foundation of community that families had come to know. At the heart of the destruction were children, whose schools, parks, and child care facilities were damaged beyond recognition, and in some cases, blown away along with children’s sense of routine and normalcy.

Save the Children has spent the year in Moore, facilitating child care reconstruction and emotional recovery for children and caregivers long after the media cameras left. But as the one-year anniversary approached, the organization teamed up with local child care providers and PTA’s to raise the spirits of the kids who bravely endured the tragedy.

“Get Ready! Get Safe!” cheers resounded outside Agapeland Learning Center as children participated in a Prep Rally, a new emergency preparedness program that help kids learn how to protect themselves and their families during a disaster. The theme: Disasters can be scary, but when we have a plan and know what to do, we can feel safe and take action!

“Last year our building was destroyed by the tornado and our teachers were literally holding down children to keep them from being blown away by the winds,” said Memory Taylor, director of Agapeland Learning Center. “Doing a Prep Rally now and teaching kids that we can feel safe again is what these kids need. It’s what our families need to move forward.”

The Prep Rally program covers four basic “Prep Steps”:

Recognizing Risks
Planning Ahead
Gathering Wise Supplies
During Disaster

Two Moore elementary schools and two child care programs joined in the Prep Rally fun, helping kids learn about preparedness through activities like the Disaster Supplies Relay Race, the UnTelephone Game (an emergency communication game) and story book reading.

“I learned that it’s okay to be scared of tornadoes,” said one 3^rd grade student. “And now I know that a [tornado] watch means keep watching the weather and a warning means take action and follow the plan.”

Full of cheers, laughs and lot of energy, the Moore Prep Rallies were a huge success with more than 1,300 children, teachers and staff signing the preparedness pledge and promising to work with their families and community to make a plan and be ready for the next disaster. Making the event extra special was the debut of Save the Children’s Get Ready Get Safe ambassador, Lassie, who stopped by to lead children in the preparedness pledge and gather disaster supplies in a relay race.

“The Prep Rally builds the spirit of resilience by giving children and families the knowledge and tools they need to prepare for disasters,” said Erin Bradshaw, Senior Director, Save the Children. “It allows kids do kid things–like play games, read books and ask questions–to learn about emergencies and feel safe. Here in Moore, it’s about helping kids continue to cope with last year’s storms by empowering them to prepare for next time.”

Moore, Oklahoma, has endured a long year of rebuilding and recovery, but by lifting up preparedness and the joint efforts of schools, teachers and caregivers, the community has grown back stronger and will be ready to weather whatever storm may come its way.

How are you preparing your family, school, and community for disasters?

Learn about and download the free Prep Rally curriculum at Get Ready Get Safe website: www.savethechildren.org/GetReady.

Blog courtesy of Save The Children.

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Category Archives: tornado

Local CERTs Offer a Way to Get Involved in Your Community

✚ Tornado Lines – Useful or Not? (The Process 088)

5 Spring Safety Tips Brought to You By Adorable Animals

1. Stay informed – get a weather radio.

2. When thunder roars, go indoors.

3. Turn around, don’t drown®.

4. Beware of flying objects.

5. Prepare for everywhere.

How to Be Smart (About Preparedness)

Read our other National Preparedness Month blogs:

Mental Health and Recovery

Prep Rally Brings Preparedness Spirit to Moore, Oklahoma

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