Are you ready for a natural disaster? National Preparedness Month is a good time to get organized

Emergency Gear IMG_2786 Natural disasters and severe weather and can occur with little warning. Examples are this year’s floods and wildfires. Are you ready to leave your home quickly? You can reduce your worries about these events by making sure you’re prepared if and when they happen.

September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s a good time to get your family, pets, and property ready. Suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission include:

Organize your finances. Financial readiness is as important as a flashlight with charged batteries. Having your financial documents up-to-date, in one place, and portable can make a big difference in a difficult time.

Replace missing documents. If important documents are missing, replace them.

Check your insurance. Find out if any of your home, health, or other insurance policies will pay for temporary shelter, replacement clothing, furniture, or other items if you’re affected by severe weather or a disaster.

Prepare your home. From floods to fires, earthquakes, high winds, and tornadoes, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s How-To Series: Protect Your Home or Business. If you live where storms and flooding are likely, visit floodsmart.gov to learn about FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

Plan for your pets. Some planning today can help ensure safety for your pets during an emergency.
Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area. Public safety officials use systems to alert the public in the event of severe weather and disasters.