Take time to learn lifesaving skills − such as CPR and first aid, check your insurance policies and coverage for the hazards you may face, such as flood, earthquakes, and tornados. Make sure to consider the costs associated with disasters and save for an emergency. Also, know how to take practical safety steps like shutting off water and gas.

Each week in September, the campaign will focus on a different aspect of preparedness for individuals, families and communities.

Visit www.ready.gov/september for more information!

New Jersey Libraries and Emergency Preparedness

The New Jersey State Library and the New Jersey Library Association are asking libraries, “What can we do to make our communities better prepared for emergencies?” With over 450 locations across New Jersey, our libraries can play a major role in community preparedness and resiliency.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the Regional FEMA Office are requesting the help of libraries to spread the following information to their communities.

Let’s spread the word! Print flyers, advertise on social media, create displays, have events, talk to patrons, and whatever else you can do.

Find the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) on social media.

Planning Activities

NJLA and the NJ State Library are asking all libraries to plan activities during September for National Emergency Preparedness Month. There are many simple activities you can do in your own communities. Please check out all the links including the three attachments at the bottom of the page for more information. These three attachments can easily be photocopied for an instant display.

In cooperation with the office of Assemblywoman Quijano and the New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Library Association is asking libraries, “What can we do to make our communities better prepared for emergencies?” With over 450 locations across New Jersey, our libraries can play a major role in community preparedness and resilency.  Let’s check each of these off and make our communities safer. Be sure to register your event with http://community.fema.gov/

• Plan a blood drive – Close to 2,000 donations are needed each day in the New York/New Jersey community for patients who require a lifesaving blood and/or platelet transfusion. Donating blood today will save many lives tomorrow.  Shauna Lynch, 732.616.8736, slynch@nybloodcenter.org

• Contact Local OEM – Click here to find your local OEM. Distribute handouts about being prepared for emergencies, including emergency kit checklists. Promote CERT Teams/Teen CERT & Medical Reserve Corps. CERT teams are designed to make individuals, their families and their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to deal with a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Print out your own bookmarks here.

• Create/update your library’s Emergency Response Plan – Is your library prepared to operate through and after an emergency? Take the Red Cross Assessment: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/workplace

• Have a program in your library – Invite a fireman, policeman, OEM coordinator or CERT team members for a program about preparedness, including having library users create their own emergency preparedness items.