As Wisconsin transitions from the summer to fall, state officials are encouraging families to focus on preparing for potential emergencies.
September marks National Preparedness month, and Tod Pritchard with Wisconsin Emergency Management says one way to be prepared is to develop and emergency response plan for your family. He says it should include details such as where to meet if something like a fire forces you out of your home, along with how to get in touch with each other if something happens during the day while people are at work or school.
Pritchard suggests also setting up an out of town contact, in the event communication is difficult on the local level. He notes that making sure everyone has the ability to text each other can often make getting in touch easier, since voice to voice contact can be difficult during the height of an emergency. “With a text message, you can send it and it will eventually go through,” Pritchard says.
Keeping a NOAA Weather Radio in your home is another way he suggests helping your family prepare. The devices can help warn about impending or current dangers, and could also serve as a way to get updated information during an emergency.