A Little Planning Can Go a Long Way

September is Emergency Preparedness Month, making it a good time to take a few simple steps to prepare for the unexpected.

Emergencies can happen anywhere, including here in Downeast Maine. A winter storm can knock out power for days or weeks. Heavy rain can cause flooding, coastal erosion, and road washouts. Poor air quality from wildfire smoke can affect our communities, even when the fire is hundreds or thousands of miles away. Extreme heat, drought, and other weather events can also affect our health and safety.

The American Public Health Association’s Get Ready campaign offers free resources to help people, families, and communities prepare for many types of emergencies, including natural disasters, infectious diseases, and other hazards. The campaign encourages people to think ahead and make a plan before an emergency happens.

Start with the basics

Emergency preparedness does not have to be complicated or expensive. Start with what matters most to you and your household.

  • Make a plan. Talk with family members about what you will do if you need to leave home, lose power, or cannot reach each other.

  • Know how you will stay informed. Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio available, and learn where to find local emergency information.

  • Build an emergency supply kit. Set aside water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, and other items you may need if you are without power or unable to leave home.

  • Plan for your specific needs. Think about children, older adults, people with disabilities, pets, and anyone who may need extra support during an emergency.

  • Check in with your neighbors. Knowing who may need help, and who you can count on for help, can make a big difference during an emergency.

You do not have to do everything at once. Pick one thing to work on this month.

Preparing for Maine's changing weather

The Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) has created a collection of free climate resilience materials covering topics such as flooding and storms, extreme heat, drought, air quality, and mosquitoes and ticks. The materials explain how these conditions can affect health and offer practical information to help people prepare.

The materials are available in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Somali, Swahili, Lingala, and Vietnamese.

For people in Washington and Hancock counties, some of these topics may feel especially familiar. Coastal storms and flooding can affect homes and roads. Wildfire smoke can create unhealthy air quality days. Ticks and mosquitoes can carry diseases, and changing weather patterns can affect when and where we encounter them.

These are not reasons to worry. They are reasons to prepare.

Choose one topic each month. Avoid overwhelm by focusing on one topic at a time.

MPHA's resources cover:

  • Flooding and storms

  • Extreme heat

  • Air quality

  • Mosquitoes and ticks

  • Drought

  • Climate and health

You can explore the full collection of MPHA climate resilience materials, including resources in multiple languages.

September is also a good time to review your household emergency supplies before winter weather arrives. Check expiration dates, replace anything you have used, and make sure everyone in your household knows where supplies are stored.

Preparedness is about being ready to take care of ourselves and one another when we need to. A few small steps today can make a difficult situation a little easier tomorrow.

Learn more and find free preparedness resources from the American Public Health Association through its Get Ready campaign.

POSTTracey CarlsonHPM, BN, HE, HA, emergency preparedness, national preparedness month