September was designated as National Preparedness Month in 2004 as a result of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the anthrax attacks that followed soon afterward.

The Kane County Health Department wants residents to take time during the month to take four actions to prepare for disasters — tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, or even pandemics or terrorist attacks:

• Become informed.
• Make a plan.
• Get an emergency kit.
• Get involved.

Each week, the health department will promote ways to take action and be better prepared. 

This week’s Kane County Health Department focus is on becoming informed. You can become informed in several ways:

• Follow the Kane County Health Department on Twitter (@KaneCoHealth) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/kanehealth).
• Sign up for the Kane County Health Department’s e-newsletter Health Matters (http://kanehealth.com/healthmatters_news.htm).
• Sign up for CodeRED, the ultra-high-speed telephone communications service for emergency notification (http://www.kcoem.org/CodeRED/CodeRED.htm).
• Get a weather alert radio.
• Read more at www.Ready.gov.

This year’s theme for National Preparedness Month is “Pledge to Prepare,” the Kane County Health Department release states, adding that you can “Make the Pledge” and sign up to become part of the National Preparedness Coalition at no charge by visiting ready.gov.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department