Asking the right questions begins the Emergency Preparedness process; the Emergency Management calls the asking of these questions ‘assessments’. A completed assessment will help recognize potential hazards around your home and in your community. Some examples of questions to ask would be:
·What potential natural disasters is my community prone too?
· What are the fire hazards in my home; wires, flammable liquid, easily flammable materials, etc.?
·Do I have enough non-perishable food and water for me and my family for at least three days?
After conducting this assessment you need to figure out how to prevent or rather mitigate. Not all situations can be completely prevented; which is why in the emergency management community we mitigate (prevent and/or reduce the potential impact of a disaster). Ask questions that determine how you can prevent dangerous or harmful situations.
·Can I store flammable materials in a safe location that is separate from heat sources?
·During damaging weather; how can I minimize a possible injury to a member of my family?
How you react before and after an emergency will make the difference between an incident and a disaster. Take steps before an emergency to prepare and mitigate any potential situations. When responding after an emergency; make sure you have the supplies you need at that you and your family are following either your family plan or community emergency plan.