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Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.

September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that the best time to prepare is before an emergency strikes. The New Jersey Department of Health is reminding residents to protect themselves and their families ahead of a disaster by preparing an emergency kit, staying informed and getting involved.

The 2018 national theme is “Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.”

“The time to prepare is now,” Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said. “While hurricane season usually runs from June 1 through November 30, hurricane and tropical storm activity peaks in New Jersey from mid-August through the end of October. By taking simple steps now, families can decrease their risk of illness and injury when faced with an emergency—manmade or natural.”

To mark preparedness month, the New Jersey EMS Task Force will participate in a series of exercises in September, one which will test agencies’ capabilities in responding to mass casualty events in tunnels and bridges that connect New Jersey and New York and another training that will focus on providing emergency medicine in disaster situations. Some of the scenarios during that training will be based on lessons learned during the Task Force’s deployment to the U.S. Virgin Islands in October 2017.

Department staff will also attend an Emergency Management Symposium on Sept. 13 hosted by the NewYork-Presbyterian Enterprise that will feature national experts in cyber security, mass casualty events, natural disasters and more.  

Ahead of National Preparedness Month, the Department’s Emergency Preparedness staff participated in a tabletop exercise in July with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Totowa where about 45 attendees—ranging from federal, state and county preparedness partners—reviewed the Department’s plan in the event New Jersey experienced a massive anthrax attack and the state requested federal medical supplies. Also in preparation of Preparedness Month, the New Jersey EMS Task Force got hands-on experience with live explosives training last week as part of an Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings course at New Mexico Tech. Over four days, the team learned how to plan for, safely recognize and respond to terrorist bombing attacks.

On Oct. 3, as part of the annual week-long New Jersey EMS Conference in Atlantic City, Department staff will participate in a one-day symposium on large-scale incidents for healthcare and public health agencies from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. that will include our partners at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey EMS Task Force and the New Jersey State Police.

If someone is injured, the first few minutes are critical in helping their chances of surviving serious life-threatening injuries. The Department’s Office of Emergency Management, through the University Hospital Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, provides free FEMA-developed trainings around the state to teach people how to use simple and effective skills to save lives, effectively communicate with 9-1-1 operators, stop life-threatening bleeding, manage stress, position injured individuals and stay safe. Since these kicked off last year, the Department has trained more than 650 members of the public, community groups, businesses and houses of worship during in 25 statewide courses. Click here for more information.

To prepare for emergencies, it is important to:

Prepare a go-kit. Every family should have an emergency kit prepared with items to last up to a week. Kit basics include fresh water, nonperishable food and backup supplies such as flashlights and batteries. If you do need to evacuate, be sure to pack a supply of medication that will last a week. To prepare and maintain a kit, check out the Department’s Emergency Supply Checklist in English and Spanish.

Create an emergency plan. Make plans with your family and neighbors in case you're not together during an emergency. Discuss how you'll contact each other, where you'll meet and what you'll do in different situations. Check out Ready Together, the Department’s public health guide to emergency planning.

Stay informed. During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services office can give you information on open shelters and evacuation orders. Bookmark www.nj.gov/health and follow the Department on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.  

Get involved. Consider joining your local Medical Reserve Corps, which coordinates activities through volunteers to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to public health emergencies.

Residents should also consider signing up for Register Ready, New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters, which allows residents with disabilities or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers and associates to provide information in advance so emergency responders can better plan to serve them during a disaster. The information collected is confidential, unavailable to the public and used strictly for emergency response and planning purposes.

Join in celebrating preparedness month with the Department on social media using hashtag #ReadyNJ.

Weekly national themes include:

• Week 1: Sept. 1-8                Make and Practice Your Plan
• Week 2: Sept. 9-15              Learn Life Saving Skills 
• Week 3: Sept. 16-22            Check Your Insurance Coverage
• Week 4: Sept. 23-29            Save For an Emergency

Click here for a list of local events.

Follow New Jersey Health Commissioner Elnahal on Twitter.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.