Livingston County is reminding residents that September is National Preparedness Month. The theme this year is “Disasters Don’t Wait, Make Your Plan Today.” As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved. As part of the Annual Emergency Preparedness Month, this week the Livingston County Department of Health and the Office of Emergency Management will share information to help you “Teach Youth about Preparedness.”
Emergency managers, teachers, and others who work with children understand that youth are an important part of our communities and can be vulnerable during disasters. It’s important to keep youth safe and to include their needs in planning, response, and recovery efforts. This also includes knowing how you will reestablish your facilities and services if impacted by disaster.
Disasters happen everywhere. Every member of the family can prepare. Young children and teens can be a part of the process. As a parent, guardian, or other family member, you have an important role when it comes to protecting the children in your life and helping them to be prepared in case disaster strikes.
Children and youth also have unique abilities to prepare themselves. Children and youth can be empowered through understanding risks and knowing how to protect themselves. Empowered youth can help involve their families, peers, and communities in disaster preparedness. Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.
For more information for how you can help children cope if they’ve experienced a disaster, and tips to help your children be ready when disaster strikes, please visit https://www.ready.gov/kids/
With these tools, both kids and their families can be prepared whether they’re at home, school, or elsewhere. Preparedness for the future starts today. For more information please visit: https://www.ready.gov/kids. In recognition of National Emergency Preparedness Month, we are continuing to recruit volunteers for the Livingston County Medical Reserve Corps. Our Medical Reserve Corps consist of locally based medical and non-medical volunteers who are prepared to assist our communities during emergencies, such as an influenza epidemic, a chemical spill, or an act of terrorism. For more information on how to join, please go to the registration process at https://www.livingstoncounty.
