September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. As part of the month's observance, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services has established the Be Ready Initiative to encourage everyone to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, houses of worship, schools and workplaces.

OKDHS is aware of the nationwide public health status of the H1N1 Influenza virus and encourages all employees to become familiar with emergency plans, first aid supplies and recovery plans. The goal of the OKDHS Be Ready initiative is to increase employee awareness about the importance of preparing themselves and their families for emergencies and disasters throughout the month of September.

The OKDHS Information Security Office is working with a wide variety of local, county, state and national community and government organizations to highlight and strengthen the agency's collective ability and capacity to prevent, protect, respond and recover from both natural and man-made disasters through effective collaboration between OKDHS offices. Information is being shared to provide OKDHS employees with a variety of opportunities to learn more about emergency preparedness, emergency operations and emergency response and recovery throughout September and beyond.

The 3 principles of the Be Ready initiative are:

1. GET A KIT
   Recommended items to Include in a basic emergency supply kit:
   • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation;
     
     
   • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food;
     
     
   • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both;
     
     
   • Flashlight and extra batteries;
     
     
   • First aid kit;
     
     
   • Whistle to signal for help;
     
     
   • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place;
     
     
   • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation;
     
     
   • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities;
     
     
   • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food);
     
     
   • Local maps; and 
     
     
   • Cell phone with chargers. 
     
     Additional Items to consider adding to an emergency supply kit:
     
     
   • Prescription medications and glasses;
     
     
   • Infant formula and diapers;
     
     
   • Pet food and extra water for your pet;
     
     
   • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container;
     
     
   • Cash or traveler's checks and change;
     
     
   • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from http://www.ready.gov/ (Link opens in new window);
     
     
   • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate;
     
     
   • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate; "
     
     
   • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners;
     
     
   • Fire extinguisher;
     
     
   • Matches in a waterproof container;
     
     
   • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items;
     
     
   • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels;
     
     
   • Paper and pencil; and 
     
     
   • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.
     
     
2. MAKE A PLAN
   
   
   1. Family Emergency Plan
      Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
      
      Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
      
      Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
      
      Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management Web site.
      
       
   2. Planning to Stay or Go
      Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is an immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available.
      
      
   3. Emergency Information
      Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door.
      
      
   4. Emergency Plans
      Use the New Online Family Emergency Planning Tool created by the Ready Campaign in conjunction with the Ad Council to prepare a printable Comprehensive Family Emergency Plan:
      http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp (Link opens in new window)
      
      Use the New Quick Share application to help your family in assembling a quick reference list of contact information for your family, and a meeting place for emergency situations:
      http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/quickshare.html (Link opens in new window)
       
      You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare, houses of worship and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.
      
      
3. BE INFORMED
   Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.  However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen and the appropriate way to respond to them.  In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

More OKDHS Be Ready Initiatives:
Be Ready Sunday/Weekend through the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Link opens in new window)