Disaster restoration specialists with SERVPRO are reminding Tryon-area property owners that September is National Preparedness Month.

This annual event, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides families and businesses with the information and resources they need to plan for, react to, survive and recover from an emergency, before the emergency happens.

For National Preparedness Month 2018, themed “Disasters happen, prepare now, learn how,” FEMA has prepared a week-by-week calendar of recommended actions property owners can take to be ready if disaster does strike:

Week 1: Create an emergency plan that includes signing up for emergency alerts and making contingency plans for shelter, evacuation and family communication.

Week 2: Learn life-saving skills. CPR is a good place to start, but also be certain to know how to turn off the utilities in the home and ensure that smoke and carbon monoxide  detectors are properly installed and working.

Week 3: Check insurance coverage. Once the emergency is over, appropriate and sufficient insurance will be key to getting life back to normal, or at least on track.

Week 4: Plan financially for the possibility of a disaster. This goes beyond having a “rainy day fund” for immediate needs. Gather and organize important home, business, insurance, financial and personal documents, and keep them up-to-date and stored in a secure, water-and-fire-proof location.

“There’s a difference between surviving a disaster and recovering from a disaster,” said Sue Steen, Servpro Industries Inc. chief executive officer. “Families and businesses who take the time to create both a short- and long-term plan to deal with the unexpected are better able to respond quickly if the unexpected happens, which can improve their chances of survival.

“Having key information at their fingertips in the aftermath of the emergency can set them on the path to recovery more quickly and with less stress.”

For more information on SERVPRO in the Tryon area, people may visit servpro.com.

– Submitted article