By Tim Cherry
Staff writer
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Whether it’s a hurricane or chemical spill, Families should pledge to be prepared for any emergency, according to Fort Belvoir’s Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.

The ninth annual National Preparedness Month in September strives to remind U.S. citizens to prepare for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

The NPM slogan this year is “Pledge to Prepare, Awareness to Action.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s goal is to transform awareness into action by encouraging citizens to ensure they’re prepared for disasters and emergencies.

Families can learn how to effectively and efficiently respond to natural and manmade situations that could affect the installation from the pamphlets and preparedness literature distributed by DPTMS.

“There are not enough first responders out there to help each individual person during an emergency,” said Mario Sumter, DPTMS emergency management specialist. “It’s going to take each individual to be prepared to make sure they can help themselves, which puts less stress on the first responder.”

According to FEMA, National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the Ready Campaign, in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. In honor of this year’s slogan, FEMA encourages individuals, businesses and organizations to commit to doing at least one of the following:

• Learn about emergency hazards and their appropriate responses

• Build an emergency kit

• Make a communications plan

• Get involved in preparedness in their community.

Individuals, businesses, community organizations and places of worship can register to become a National Preparedness Coalition Member, which is open to public and private organizations. Coalition members collaborate with fellow members across the country on ways to help get community members prepared. In 2011, nearly 10,000 individuals and organizations registered to become coalition members. Sumter said committing to one of these conditions helps Belvoir community members take a step closer to becoming prepared for the emergencies that can hit Belvoir.

In the past year, the installation has experienced flash flooding, a tropical storm, power outages, an earthquake and a severe windstorm.

These natural disasters require specific preparation and proper response measures. The Ready Army website provides detailed information about that preparation and response for its users. The site also provides information for Families to prepare for emergencies through three keys: Build a kit, Make a plan and Be informed.

There are some preparation measures that are consistently necessary for the majority of emergencies, said Sumter.

Prepare emergency kits filled with necessities, such as 72 hours worth of non-perishable food, water and medicine, for each person in a household.

“Make sure you keep an idea on when they’re expiring so you can start using (expiring) items and replacing them with something else,” Sumter said. Community members should also have batteries, a working radio and cash.

A Family’s plan should always consist of a way to contact each other in case of separation before, during, or after an emergency. Belvoir Families can stay informed by following post updates via phone, internet, telephone or radio.

“The plan is no good unless everybody knows what the plan is,” said Chris McCormick, Safety Office occupational health and safety specialist. McCormick encourages Families, garrison directorates and tenant organizations to prepare plans far in advance, so the community as a whole can effectively respond to emergencies.

The safety office will assist DPTMS during NPM by providing information to the community.

“Each individual needs to take this opportunity during the month to make a pledge and resolution to prepare themselves for the different emergencies,” Sumter said.

The Ready Campaign’s websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BEREADY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish.

Visit the ReadyArmy website at www.acsim.army.mil.readyarmy, for more information.

Editor’s note: In honor of National Preparedness Month, the Eagle will examine the proper steps Families can take to be prepared for emergencies in a four part series. Part one examines National Preparedness Month.