Here are some ways to help improve you readiness.
 

The Ten Elements Of The PRI And Your RQ

Aware Of Your Local Government's Emergency Or Disaster Plan

One of the important first steps in preparedness is to familiarize yourself with your local community’s emergency or disaster plan. The following link takes you to the Escambia County Department of Public Safety. There you will find important local information resources and contact information for public officials.

http://www.escambia-emergency.com/

 

Know How To Find The Emergency Broadcast Channel On The Radio

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers and, effective in May 2007, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a National emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to a specific area.
In Escambia County the following stations are designated as participants in the EAS system:

 

Seen Or heard Any Messages That Encourage Preparedness (in the last 30 days)

Recently, many websites have been created to help spread the message and encourage preparation and preparedness. Whether you are looking for specific information about what to do in your area, or something more broad like what should be in a "Go" kit, these sites are good places to start:

• The American Red Cross
• Ready.gov
• Ready Kids
• Ready Business
• PandemicFlu.gov
• Be Ready Escambia

 

Prepared A Disaster Supply Kit
After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives? The following will link you to an American Red Cross document that will aid greatly in family disaster preparedness:  http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/preparedness/A4600.pdf

 

Prepared A“Go” Kit
Since emergencies can strike at any time, it’s a good idea to have some supplies that you can take with you that provides the basis for some of the supplies that may be needed during an emergency.

A “Go” kit should include some food and water to get you from emergency to safety and some of the comforts from home, like a toothbrush. Customize your “Go” kit based on your own personal needs, but every good “Go” kit should include:

• battery powered flashlight
• battery powered radio
• blanket
• work gloves
• plastic work goggles
• dust mask
• rain poncho
• whistle
• a first aid kit.

Family Communications Plan
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so families must plan in advance. Who is the point of contact? How will you communicate? These are just a few of the important questions that must be addressed in a plan. Making sure that your family has a plan in case of an emergency is critical to effective preparedness. Creating a plan is surprisingly easy, thanks to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready campaign. This even includes a downloadable Family Emergency Plan. It asks the questions... you answer them... and there is your plan! The American Red Cross also offers tips on creating a plan.

Establish A Specific Meeting Place
Having a predetermined meeting place away from your home will save time and minimize confusion if your home is affected or your neighborhood is evacuated. Have you decided on a meeting place? Does everyone in your family know where it is?

You should also be aware of the Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) -- a free tool for daily emergencies and national disasters. NOKR is an emergency contact system to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased. NOKR provides the public a free proactive service to store emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies.

Practiced Or Drilled On What To Do In An Emergency
The old saying is true: Practice makes perfect. And although no one can ever be perfectly prepared... practicing or performing emergency drills is very important. Most schools require all students to participate in fire drills... every family should have emergency drills as well. You can even make them an enjoyable family activity.

Volunteered
Volunteering before, during and/or after an emergency provides people with important skills and knowledge. It helps make a prepared individual even better prepared and a prepared community even better able to respond.
The American Red Cross should be your first stop when looking for local emergency preparedness opportunities. And since we all have a role in hometown security, Citizen Corps is a great way for individuals to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

 

Taken First Aid (in the past 5 years)

Being trained in first aid gives you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life. If you haven’t taken a first aid class in the past five years, it’s time to do it! From CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to injury prevention courses, blood borne pathogens training and community disaster education, you can learn from the most trusted name in safety training for nearly a century - the American Red Cross. Red Cross training offers complete, flexible programs that help you, your family and your community stay prepared for virtually any life-threatening situation. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for more information.

 

My Safe Florida Home - Home Structural Hardening Grant

To help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and to reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state, the My Safe Florida Home program is offering free wind inspections by qualified hurricane mitigation inspectors to eligible homeowners.  You must apply and obtain approval in order to receive the free inspection. Requesting or obtaining an inspection does not guarantee or automatically qualify you for a grant. Floridians whose homes have undergone wind certification and hurricane mitigation inspections approved by the Department of Financial Services may be eligible to apply for matching grants up to $5,000.

For complete information: http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/