As part of In celebration of National Disaster Preparedness Month, the West Virginia Department of Health (DH), Department of Health Facilities (DHF) and Department of Human Services (DoHS) are inviting West Virginians to participate in their annual campaign focused on preparing for emergencies and disasters to keep their families and communities safe. This year’s theme, “Start the Conversation,” focuses on the need for open discussion about disaster preparedness.
“National Disaster Preparedness Month is a timely reminder that everyone needs to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies.” Dr. Cynthia Persily, Director of the West Virginia Department of Human Resources; “This year’s theme, ‘Let’s Start the Conversation,’ highlights the importance of talking to family and friends about potential emergency situations. These conversations can greatly improve our preparedness and resilience.”
Department of Health Commissioner Shelley Young, PhD, DO, MBA, FAAFP, emphasized the importance of discussing potential disasters, even if the conversations may be uncomfortable: “Engaging in these conversations will help families make informed decisions and take the necessary actions to prepare for an emergency.”
“Effective preparedness starts with conversations. By starting these important conversations, we can empower ourselves and our communities to face emergencies with confidence and clarity — building a culture of preparedness that starts in our homes and extends to our neighborhoods,” added DHF Executive Director Michael Caruso.
The focus of the 2024 Ready Campaign is to inspire all communities, especially underserved communities, to build resilience through conversation and preparedness. There are simple steps you can take to start having these important discussions.
Make time: Choose a calm, relaxed time to discuss emergency plans with your family.
Step-by-step discussion: Avoid rushing into decisions and decentralize the conversation so everyone feels comfortable. It may be too late to discuss something when an emergency occurs. Take your time now.
Share your prep steps: Discuss the steps you’ve taken and encourage others to ask questions and share their prep actions. It may be too late to discuss them when an emergency occurs. Take the time now.
Let’s turn the discussion into action: Follow the steps we discussed. Make sure they are logical and work for your situation. Get the simple tools you need to protect yourself. For example, a flashlight is useful, but it’s not much use without batteries.
of rEdie This website provides easy-to-use templates and contact cards for children with important family information to carry with them to school in case of an emergency. Creating a family emergency plan is a quick and engaging process that involves the whole family, making it an efficient and collaborative effort.
For more resources and information on creating a family emergency plan, please see below. Ready to go or the Threat Preparedness Center website dhhr.wv.gov/healthprep/Pages/default.aspx.
