In support of whole-community preparedness, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month (NPM) in San Joaquin County. NPM is recognized across America each September, to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. The 2019 theme is, “Prepared, Not Scared.” Emergency preparedness officials urge you to know about risks, be informed, make a plan, build a kit and get prepared for disasters that may occur in your area. Plan for and use the all-hazards approach to be READY for any event, visit https://www.sjready.org/.
San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Public Health Services (PHS) participate in NPM to increase preparedness throughout the County - encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies. Helpful tips, tricks, and important information will be shared throughout the month of September at local events such as Family Day at the Park, and through the OES and PHS social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor. Check the sites often, new information will be posted daily.
Additionally, OES is collaborating with various local fire districts for “Hands-Only CPR” community presentations on Saturday, September 14.
One of NPM’s key messages is: be prepared in the event an emergency causes you to be without utilities, electricity, water, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue for up to three days. Weekly themes for 2019 include:
- Save early for disaster costs
- Make a plan to prepare for disasters
- Teach youth to prepare for disasters
- Get involved in your community’s preparedness
“It’s our goal that all San Joaquin County citizens think about emergency preparedness every day. Whether it is building an emergency supply kit or knowing where emergency exits are located in buildings we frequent. Every little thing we do now could make all the difference later,” says Shellie Lima, Deputy Director Emergency Services.