September is National Preparedness Month. Previously, Dawson County Emergency Management Director Billy Thurmond discussed, in the first of a three-part series, the assembly of a basic emergency supply kit. This week Director Thurmond asks all families to create a family emergency plan.

“Families aren’t always together when disaster strikes,” stated Thurmond. “It is of extreme importance for families to plan in advance how they will contact each other, how they will get back together, and what to do in unusual situations.”

• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.

• You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

• Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the attack, the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is immediate danger.

• In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should monitor TV or radio news reports for information or official instructions as they become available. If you're specifically told to evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately.

Families should also consider creating an evacuation plan.

• Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.

• If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.

• Become familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.

• If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if you have to.

• Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated.

• Lock the door behind you.

• Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.

If time allows:

• Call or email the "out-of-state" contact in your family communications plan.

• Tell them where you are going.

• If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.

• Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.

• Check with neighbors who may need a ride.

Additionally, Thurmond suggests, “Everyone should keep a copy of an emergency plan in their emergency supply kit or another safe place where it can be easily accessed in the event of a disaster.” Families should gather information for the plan including each person’s name, date of birth, social security number and medical information along with phone numbers of doctors, insurance companies, veterinarians and the out-of-town contact person. A good example of a family emergency plan may be downloaded fromready.ga.gov/Plan.

Director Thurmond also urges all Dawson County residents to sign up for Swift 911, the official Dawson County Emergency Notification provider at www.dawsoncounty.org.

The system can make thousands of calls in a minute to convey vital information. These messages may include information on floods, fires, water emergencies, road closures, missing persons, evacuation orders, and weather emergencies.

The Dawson County Emergency Management Agency is the local lead agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response for Dawson County. Their mission is to provide an aggressive, comprehensive Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Program for Dawson County in order to save lives, protect property and reduce the disaster effects.