NPM 2010: Be Informed
Do you live in an earthquake-prone region? Are you located within miles of a dangerous chemical facility? Is your home in "Tornado Alley?" As we wrap up National Preparedness Month 2010, we're highlighting the final step of the Ready campaign - Be Informed. Keys for being prepared are understanding which disasters are most likely to occur in your area and having state-by-state contact information for local emergency management agencies.
One of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date about emergencies is to sign up for local emergency alerts. This will allow you to receive free emergency alerts about events including terrorist attacks, natural disasters, severe weather, and road closures. If you live in the Washington D.C. region, subscribe to the Capitalert System. In addition to choosing what type of events you will be notified about, you can choose how you will receive alerts (SMS text messages, emails, etc.). This information can prove invaluable in an emergency situation.