WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY) – September marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month.
FEMA organizes this annual preparedness month every September, hoping to encourage residents to think for the future and be prepared for disasters. This year’s theme is “Disaster’s Don’t Wait, Make Your Plan Today.”
According to the Executive Deputy Director of West Virginia’s Emergency Management Division Mike Oakley, they want families to take steps to protect themselves in the event of a natural disaster.
“We try to get families to prepare for disasters and things that occur so that God forbid a disaster should occur in your neighborhood, or you should be involved in one, that it’s not as traumatic to you and you have things to help you get through it until you can move forward and start to recoup,” Oakley said.
Some things you can do to prepare include building an emergency kit and learning where to seek shelter during a natural disaster.