Good time to update your emergency plan

Pasadena Star News  

By: Cynthia Kurtz                   

Posted 9/18/2013

September is National Preparedness Month and a good time to reassess your disaster plans.

The unfortunate truth is that most folks think about getting ready for a disaster right after a disaster. The American Red Cross is trying to change that thinking with the “Prepare the San Gabriel Valley Campaign” and their “Ready Rating Program.”

“Only six percent of Californians have made plans for what to do before, during and after a catastrophic event,” says Ben Green, CEO of the Red Cross San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter. “Preparedness is critical in preventing and alleviating the impact of disasters and city officials, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to participate in the campaign.”

If you are thinking that you really should review your plan, National Preparedness Month is a good opportunity to start. The Red Cross knows how important it is to be prepared now. They respond to 70,000 disasters every year. 

It’s not just earthquakes. Disasters come in many forms - wildfires, tsunamis, home fires, pandemics, heat waves, floods, landslides, downed power lines and terrorism. No one is immune from disasters at home or at work.

One-third of businesses have no plan for how they will respond if a disaster interrupts operations. But 82 percent of businesses say they would develop a plan if someone made it easy. 

The Red Cross’s Ready Rating Program makes it easy and convenient. Best of all, it’s free.

Ready Rating is on-line program at www.readyrating.org. After you sign up for the free membership, the 4 minute and 31 second “1-2-3 assessment video” will tell you everything you need to use the site.  

A simple questionnaire allows you to assess your current level of preparedness, create a tailor made plan, begin to implement the plan and even learn how to help others during a disaster. As a member you have access to your assessment anytime you want.

The site allows you to generate customized reports about your plan. Whenever you update your information, a new score card is generated enabling you to track your progress. This easy self-paced tool can dramatically improve your level of preparedness.