WOODSTOCK — Chief Robbie Blish and the Woodstock Police Department would like to share safety tips during National Preparedness Month.
September is observed as National Preparedness Month. This campaign was produced to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. Disasters can happen when you least expect it and being prepared can help you and your families in emergencies.
Residents and community members are encouraged to go to the the Vermont Alert website to sign-up for free emergency notifications.
The Woodstock Police Department would like to share the following information about making a plan and building an emergency preparedness kit from Ready.gov and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Make a Plan
- Research how you will receive emergency alerts and warnings.
- Find an evacuation route. If you need to leave your house during an emergency, where will you go? Different disasters may require different evacuation routes, be prepared for all disasters including but not limited to hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires, major flooding, and snowstorms.
- Talk with your family about how you will communicate in a disaster. Consider using portable radios to communicate with your family if you do not have a working phone.
- During disasters or emergencies, you may become separated from the members of your household. Designate a safe meeting spot for you and your family.
Consider specific needs of your household
- Different ages of members within your household, children, adults, and seniors
- Responsibility for assisting others
- Dietary needs
- Disabilities or access and functional needs (including devices or equipment)
- Cultural of religious considerations
- Pets or service animals
- Languages spoken
Building a Kit
A basic emergency supply kit should include the following items:
- Water, one gallon per person per day for several days
- Food, at least a several days supply of non-perishable food. Make sure you have the tools to open these items. For example, a manual can opener
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Consider bringing one flashlight per person
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Tools including wrench or pliers
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
- Your prescription medications
- Copies of important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, birth certificates, IDs, saved electronically or stored in a waterproof container
- Out of state emergency contact numbers
- Warm blankets or sleeping bags
- Extra cash
After assembling your kit, remember to maintain and update as needed so it is ready to go in an emergency. Emergency kits should be updated each year, as family needs may change.
“We encourage our residents to prepare for the unexpected and know their plan,” said Chief Blish. “It’s important to have a disaster kit ready, even if residents never need to use it.”
Residents and community members are encouraged to go to the the Vermont Alert website, here, to sign-up for free emergency notifications.
Residents are encouraged to contact the Woodstock Police Department on its non-emergency line at 802-457-1420, with any questions regarding their own emergency preparedness plan. As always in the event of an emergency, call 911.
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