US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

The second week of National Preparedness Month 2019 highlights the importance of knowing your community’s risks and what to do when they occur. Having a plan and taking action in advance means that everyone can be prepared, no matter where or when disaster strikes.

When making a plan it is vital to involve your entire family, as you may not all be together when a disaster occurs. Follow these steps to help you prepare:

• Sign up for emergency alerts so that during an emergency, you receive life-saving information from your state and local municipality.
• Have an evacuation plan and know your evacuation route.
• Identify several places you could go in an emergency such as a shelter, a friend’s home in another town or a motel. Choose destinations in different directions so that you have options.
• Plan for your pets (e.g., carrying case, food and supplies, and pre-identify shelters to use). Not all shelters accept pets, so plan ahead for a safe place for them to stay.
• Making a family emergency communication plan in advance will let all members of the household know how to reach each other and where to meet up in an emergency.
• Collect, copy, and store your financial information using Your Disaster Checklist.

Each September, National Preparedness Month reminds us to prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities for the disasters and emergencies that could happen where we live, work and visit.

Learn more about the many ways that you can prepare in the case of a disaster or emergency by going to Ready.gov.