National Preparedness Month & "Go Bag" Giveaway

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Benita!!!
September is National Preparedness Month. Before a disaster turns your world upside- Get Prepared!!!

This month, OEM and The Advertising Council team up to encourage New Yorkers to take some time and be ready for all types of emergencies.
Develop a disaster plan and decide where you and your family will meet in the event of an emergency. Gather emergency supplies - some to keep in your home and others to keep in backpacks in case you must leave your home in a hurry. Finally, learn how to keep informed about the hazards you may face in New York City.

Today, everyone can take three steps to prepare for all types of emergencies!

1. Make a plan
2. Get a kit
3. Be informed

The main goal of the Ready New York City campaign is to encourage parents to prepare in the case of an emergency, both small and large, partially by staying informed through OEM’s Facebook page. September 2nd was the Launch of the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application, which allows users to take the first step in making a plan by selecting and sharing your own meeting place with others.

Make a Plan:
Develope a Disaster Plan with your Family. Prepare for what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. Disuss a meeting place and emergency exits. It's always helpful to go over this information and practice your plan.

Get a Kit:
Gather Supplies! It's important to keep at least 3 days worth of supplies.
Important items include:
- Water (one gallon of water per day/per person)
-Non-Perishable,ready to eat food (& Can Opener)
-First aid kit
-Flashlight
-Battery-operated AM/FM radio & extra batteries (you can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries)
-Personal hygiene items:like soap,feminine hygiene products,toothbrush & toothpaste
-Phone that does not rely on electricity
-Child care supplies or other special care items(like Baby formula or medicine)

Be Informed!
OEM is branching out and sharing information with New Yorkers in more ways than ever before. In addition to getting emergency alerts and updates through radio or television news, you can sign up for Notify NYC to receive emergency messages through the telephone or by text message. OEM also offers a variety of e-mail alerts- Find one that's right for you here.

Please be ready!! We never know when an emergency is going to happen. Let's be prepared!!! Every household should pack a Go Bag - a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. A Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy and easy-to-carry container(such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels). A Go Bag should be easily accessible for if and when you have to leave your home in a hurry. Besides your other important supplies you should have a few more items like:
-Copies of your important documents (in a waterproof and portable container) like your insurance cards, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.
Extra set of car and house keys
-Credit Card or ATM cards & cash( especially in small denominations. It's recommended to keep at least $50-$100 on hand.)
-Keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Medication information and other essential personal items are very important!(If you store extra medication in your Go Bag, make sure you refill them before they expire.)
-First-aid kit

Are you ready? Get your Go Bag Ready now!!!
Win it!!!One of my lucky readers can win a Disaster Preparedness Starter kit (The "Go Bag")



MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit www.readynyc.org and check out the guides for tips & information. Leave a Comment telling me a tip you found most useful.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Leave a comment telling me how you would personalize your Go Bag (if you won)(1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @NYC OEM to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (2 extra entries)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like the NYC Office of Emergency Management Facebook Page (3 extra entries)
■Use the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application (3 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)

This giveaway will end on October 6th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: I am helping to spread awareness to prepare families for emergency situations. This information and giveaway was provided by the Ready NYCity Campaign*

Please visit OEM-New York City Office of Emergency Management for Important information.