September is National Preparedness Month

Citizens encouraged to plan and prepare  

September is National Preparedness Month and the Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) encourages citizens to take time during the month to plan and prepare for disasters and emergency situations.  

“We highly encourage all residents and businesses to spend some time this month developing an emergency plan and assembling a disaster supply kit,” EMA Director and Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. “Taking these proactive steps and being prepared can prove to be of tremendous benefit in times of emergencies.”  

Develop a Plan
Whether you are at home, at work or on the go, it is important to create a plan in case of an emergency. Planning ahead will ensure you will know what to do and have the supplies you need to be safe wherever you are.  

Before an emergency happens, sit down with family members and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency situation. Keep a copy of this plan in your disaster supply kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of an emergency.  

Assemble a Kit
Every household is encouraged to assemble a disaster supply kit. Some items recommended for inclusion are:

• Water: one gallon per person per day, for at least 3 days
• Food: at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food
• Can opener
• Radio: battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps  

Stay Informed: Weather Alert Notifications and Emergency Notification Calls
The Forsyth County EMA encourages residents to sign up for weather alert notifications, for use in concert with the county’s outdoor severe weather sirens and a NOAA weather radio.  

Forsyth County residents can sign up to receive these time-sensitive weather alerts for severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings and tornado warnings. Citizens can elect to be notified when alerts are issued via telephone calls, emails or text messages. There is no cost for citizens to sign up to receive these weather alerts, but phone usage or text charges may apply.  

To sign up for the alerts, visit the Forsyth County Web site at www.forsythco.com and look for the ‘Sign up to receive Forsyth County Weather Alerts’ icon on the home page. You will be directed to a secure sign-up page hosted by Twenty First Century Communications. The information provided during the registration process determines the geographical region of the county for which you will receive weather alerts.  

By signing up to receive the weather alerts, you will be automatically signed up to receive emergency notification calls. These are automated calls from the 911 Center to notify residents of emergencies or important situations and are made to telephone numbers on record with the 911 Center. Residents who have a cell phone in place of a home telephone, would like to have a cell phone called in addition to their home telephone, or who have VOIP or digital voice phones can register those numbers via the weather alerts sign-up page.  

For more information, call the Forsyth County EMA office at 770.205.5674 or visit www.ready.ga.gov.