September is Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month is an annual campaign aimed at reminding Americans that being ready for emergencies and disasters means you never have to GET ready for one. Proper preparation helps to keep you, your staff, your patients, and your communities safe.
This year’s national Ready Campaign spotlights preparing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The theme for emergency preparedness in 2024 is “Start a Conversation”.
Start Today
It’s sometimes difficult to talk with those we care for about the bad things that could happen. But it’s critical to have these conversations so our communities and loved ones can get ready and stay safe.
Conversations about preparedness need to happen before a looming emergency or disaster. Do it at a time when everyone is calm; setting a reasonable time period for these discussions can ensure everyone is comfortable and all perspectives can be considered before a plan is created. Start by explaining steps you are taking and encourage back-and-forth dialogue and questions.
Resources
At Ready.gov you can easily access a myriad of useful resources, beginning with preparedness toolkits. These are available in multiple languages. The toolkits offer graphics, messaging, and other resources you can share with staff, clients, and families. While the website is offered by the New York City Emergency Management team, materials are appropriate for all New Yorkers. Resources range from emergency plan templates to pet care during an incident. Home care agencies in particular can benefit from the page dedicated to those with disabilities and access or functional needs.
The NYS Emergency Preparedness website is also a wealth of information. Links to specialty pages include one dedicated to health care providers, and another for families, individuals, and caregivers.
Stay Informed
Monitor conditions when bad weather looms, and review alerts for your immediate area. Encourage your staff and patients to do the same.
We encourage all providers and patients to sign up for NY Alert, the state’s Mass Notification System used to warn citizens promptly of emergencies and provide other critical information.
New York City organizations (including home care providers) serving individuals with disabilities or access and functional needs can sign up for the Advance Warning System (AWS). The AWS service provides public preparedness and emergency information specific to this population. This is a free service for those serving NYC residents.
HCP Support
For several years, HCP has been participating in grant-funded activities through both the NYS and NYC Offices of Emergency Management.
State-wide, we alert home care providers of emergency and disaster situations, offering information on preparedness, response, and recovery. Our attendance at regional Health Emergency Preparedness Coalitions (HEPC) meetings allows us to network with emergency management teams at the county level, resulting in relevant reporting for our widespread membership. Through this relationship building, we are also better equipped to bring you the most up-to-date advice from some of the top subject matter experts in the field.
Our involvement with the New York City emergency management team started with a survey of the home care industry. The results from that study have driven our activities, which range from Emergency Management Forums to a deep dive into the transportation needs of the home care sector, to instructional videos for your patients and staff. Check them out today!
Contact Carole Deyoe, HCP’s Senior Associate of Public Policy, to suggest programming or ask about how you can increase your emergency preparedness efforts.