The month of September has been declared National Preparedness Month by the federal government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency encourages citizens to take this opportunity to better prepare for emergencies that may affect our community.

GECEMA Director, Deborah Gaither, states... “Devastation and disasters are never a planned event. Hurricane Harvey was expected, but not at the catastrophic level of destruction we have witnessed thus far. Take this time to prepare, as much as possible, for yourself and your family for the potential of unforeseen disasters. Your safety is your responsibility. Be proactive, not reactive. Plan and prepare now.”

According to Ready.gov, the theme for this September is “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” The weekly themes for September 2017 are as follows:

·         Week 1- Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends

ü  Make a kit of emergency supplies

ü  Plan, in advance, what your family will do in the event of an emergency

ü  Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area

·         Week 2- Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community

ü  Get first aid training

ü  Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

ü  Plan a preparedness event in your community

·         Week 3- Practice and Build Out Your Plans

ü  Participate in an emergency drill

ü  Know how to access community resources (e.g., shelters with the Shelter Etowah App)

·         Week 4- Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger

ü  Help your business, campus, or church develop a preparedness program

For more information, contact the Gadsden/Etowah EMA at 256-549-4575