What's Your New Year's Resolution?

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, Americans who make New Year’s resolutions are eleven times more likely to report continued success in changing a problem than individuals who have not made a resolution. This New Year’s Eve, the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management wants to encourage citizens to make being prepared for an emergency their resolution. Below are a few simple steps to get the ball rolling.

1. Create a family emergency planYour family may not be together when an emergency happens, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. You can download a family emergency plan template at www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html

2. Put together an emergency supply kitYou may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. To find a complete checklist of the supplies your household may need in the event of an emergency, visit www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html

3. Be informed about the different types of emergencies that can happen in your area and the appropriate responses.Learn about the hazards that may strike your community, the risks you face from these hazards and your community’s plans for warning and evacuation. Get informed and be in the know at our blog: http://www.cowlitzcountydem.blogspot.com/ (well, look at that, you're already here!) and be our fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cowlitzcountydem. You can learn all about emergency preparedness on our website at www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/DEM. How about getting an emergency text on your cell phone? Just text “Follow CowlitzDEM” to the number 40404. If you have questions, please call us at 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us.