Happy New Year! We took a look back at five of our most-viewed preparedness tips in 2023 to get you emergency-ready in 2024. As you plan out the new year take our tips into consideration and share them with your friends and family. Committing to just one preparedness tip can make a big difference in how you prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster.
1. Make and practice your family emergency plan
Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so think about different kinds of emergencies, like a house fire, snowstorm, power outage, or hurricane. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. What supplies would you need in each situation? Where would you go if you needed to leave your home? Thinking about and planning for disasters can feel overwhelming but doesn’t have to be. We broke it down into a few manageable steps to create an adaptable and practical plan for your family’s specific needs and concerns.
2. Make a shelter-in-place kit
“Shelter in place” is just another way of saying “stay inside.” It’s a way to keep safe during some kinds of emergencies like severe weather which could include hurricanes and tornadoes. If you are told to seek shelter or stay where you are during an emergency, it’s extremely important to be prepared to do so. A shelter-in-place kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
3. Plan and prepare for severe storms
Every year, our office plans and prepares for powerful weather events that can harm our health and well-being, cause millions of dollars in damage and disrupt our lives. To help you be ready for hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms you should think about year-round preparedness. You need to be prepared before any storm occurs. This will help you avoid making critical, life-safety decisions as a hurricane approaches.
4. Make sure your smoke alarms work
The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) recommends having one smoke alarm on each floor of your home, including the basement. They should be 10-year smoke alarms, with sealed lithium-ion batteries.
- Test each alarm in your house.
- Check the date on your alarms. If they are more than 10 years old, they need to be replaced.
- If your smoke alarms use 9-volt batteries, replace them with smoke alarms that use 10-year, sealed lithium-ion batteries.
If you don’t have smoke alarms, you can request them for free through 311 or buy them at most hardware stores.
5. Sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia alerts from the City
Stay connected to the weather forecast and important information from the City of Philadelphia. Our office will send weather and emergency alerts direct to your phone or email. Text READYPHILA to 888-777 to receive alerts to your device or customize your alerts by visiting our ReadyPhiladelphia webpage for phone and text alerts.
