top of page

National Preparedness Month 2020: How to Prepare for Disasters During COVID-19 Coronavirus

Updated: Dec 7, 2020

The COVID-19 coronavirus has been an unprecedented public health crisis, but the pandemic has also taught us that disasters don’t stop, not even for a national health crisis. The 2020 National Preparedness Month theme is: Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today, that’s why it’s more important than ever to be prepared for natural disasters and emergencies.


September is National Preparedness Month, and our emergency preparedness experts are sharing tips for staying safe during a disaster:


How to Evacuate with Advanced Warning

  • Make an emergency plan based on the disasters that are likely to happen in your region.

  • Build an emergency kit based on the needs identified in your emergency plan.

  • Include copies of essential documents in the kit and store a second set of copies online or in the cloud.

  • If you live in an area where a disaster is likely, perform regular maintenance on your house, so there is less to do during a disaster.

  • Make sure to have a full tank of gas, if an evacuation seems likely.

  • Check your car seats regularly so that they are safely fastened in the event of an emergency.

  • Consider what technology to pack: personal computers, hard drives, cell phones, and a solar-powered cell phone charger.

  • Have any necessary pet items in a known place and ready to go in an emergency.

  • Practice your emergency plan. Remember, preparedness is key!