National Emergency Preparedness Month

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have declared September of every year National Emergency Preparedness Month.The goal of Emergency Preparedness Month is to raise awareness on why it is so important to plan and prepare for disasters and emergencies. Governmental agencies and other organizations utilize this month to educate communities on how to properly and adequately prepare for disasters that may impact families, homes, workplaces and more.

Natural and human-made disasters impact all regions of the world. Disasters that have plagued the world in 2022 alone include extreme heat waves, roaring wildfires, long droughts and devastating floods. Various agencies and organizations publish resources on their websites including videos, graphics, booklets, and social media toolkits with information on how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has developed videos and other resources on the following topics that can be found on their website by clicking here:

  • Build a Kit
  • Make a Plan
  • Protect Your Family and Property
  • Teach Youth

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) also has an Emergency Preparedness Program. Booklets and other resources developed by the NIEHS include information on disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, infectious diseases, oil spills and more. In addition to resources, the NIEHS deploys a team of workers to respond to disasters that have recently plagued communities. The United Steelworkers (USW) Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) participates in this program with their team of USW Specialized Emergency Response Trainers (SERTs). When deployed to respond to an emergency or disaster, the SERTs travel to affected regions to train workers and members of the community on how to keep themselves safe in the aftermath of a disaster.

The USWTMC has created the USW Disaster Preparedness and Response Resource Guide. This guide is available in both English and Spanish and provides a wide-range of information on how to prepare for and stay safe during disasters. Furthermore, this guide provides information on emergency plans and procedures that must be in place at workplaces as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An electronic copy of the Resource Guide in both languages may be found by clicking here. To schedule preparedness training or for more information on any of the discussed resources, please contact the TMC by calling 412-562-2359 or emailing [email protected].

Take steps this month to prepare for disasters and emergencies, and ensure that your employer has a plan in place to protect workers.