Sept. 8-14 is Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters Week
Sept. 8-14 is “Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters Week.” During September 2019s National Preparedness Month, safety experts are promoting family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. The 2019 theme is “Prepared, Not Scared.” The idea is that when businesses and families are prepared for disasters, the impact will be less devastating.
When to sue after a natural disaster
While natural disasters can seem inevitable or be labeled “an act of God”, some injuries caused by a disaster may have been avoidable. If you or a loved one was injured in a preventable accident during a natural disaster because of the negligence of another person or organization, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able. The disaster attorney can discuss your legal rights and may be able to help you recover damages for your losses and injuries.
Make a plan to prepare for disasters
Ready.gov provides a great list to help families make a plan to deal with a disaster. Click here for all the details: make a plan from ready.gov
Ready.gov plan:
- Identify what types of disasters could affect your area. Tsunami? Earthquake? Tornado? Hurricane? Floods? Wildfires? Explosions?
- Upload copies and make photocopies of important documents such as medical records and photo IDs, proof of address and bank documents.
- Choose a family meeting place/shelter that everyone in the family is comfortable finding in case you aren’t together when disaster strikes.
- Identify how the family will communicate during a disaster.
- Identify an evacuation route.
- Identify how the family will receive emergency alerts and warnings.
- Identify your family’s unique needs. Do you have pets/service animals, young children or family members with medical, religious or dietary needs? Family members with disabilities or language barriers? What special supplies will they need?
- Who will be responsible for what tasks?
- Download and fill out an emergency plan like this one from FEMA.
- Practice your plan with all members of your household.
Ways to get involved
One of the ways to reduce anxiety about disaster is to get involved with community safety programs and safety training before a disaster happens. Trained volunteers and people who are well informed about how to handle a disaster make everyone safer. First responder agencies can become stretched thin during large-scale emergencies so having individuals who can lend their support is helpful.
Here are some ideas from ready.com about ways that you can get involved:
- Join or start a community emergency response team.
- Donate to a reputable emergency response organization.
- Take a first aid course.
- Volunteer and receive training to support disaster and emergency preparedness efforts in your community. Once you have received training, teach preparedness curriculum in your children’s school and/or at local businesses.
- Share emergency disaster tips on your social media.
#BeReady #PreparedNotScared
If you or a loved one is suffering from an injury as a result of an accident or error caused by the negligence of another, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
