The City of Joseph Health Department is asking area residents to take time this month to prepare their homes for an emergency.

The department said 65 percent of American households have not completed a plan for their families to follow in the event of a disaster.

As part of National Preparedness Month, the city is asking residents to focus on two basic principles of individual and family preparedness: making a plan and making a kit.

“Include all members of your family so everyone understands the plan. Consider all the
possibilities,” the health department said in a news release.

Some of those possibilities include:
• Where will we take shelter?
• How will we evacuate? If we leave the house where will we go?
• How will we communicate with immediate family and extended family that might
be trying to contact us?

The city urges people to determine the best shelter locations at home, work, and their favorite recreational locations.

To view information provided by the health department on preparation in its entirety CLICK HERE for the news release on National Preparedness Month.

Also, for family plan templates, communication plan templates, and more, visit ready.gov.