If an earthquake strikes, do you have a plan to follow to safety? 

The uncertainty of crisis looms large, as it always has, but being prepared can help you stand confident against that uncertainty. Understanding the importance of readiness in mitigating the impact of natural disasters and putting it into practice is crucial to building a resilient community.

What is preparedness?

Preparedness is more than a reaction to potential threats; it’s a proactive approach involving the foresight to identify risks and then take steps to mitigate their impact. This can encompass various aspects, including:

Emergency Planning: Creating plans for different scenarios, such as natural disasters, medical emergencies, or power outages. This ensures a structured response when faced with adversity.

Skill Development: Acquiring practical skills and knowledge, such as first aid, fire control, and basic survival techniques, equips individuals to handle different situations effectively.

Resource Management: Stocking essential supplies, such as food, water, and personalized medical supplies, ensure readiness during emergencies when access to necessities may be limited.

Why is preparedness so important?

One of natural disasters’ defining characteristics is their unpredictability. Despite advancements in technology and science, accurately forecasting natural disasters’ exact timing, intensity, and trajectory remains challenging. This uncertainty underscores the importance of preparedness, as it allows individuals and communities to be ready to respond swiftly and effectively, no matter when and how disaster strikes.

When disaster does strike, local resources will be depleted, leaving preparedness as the only line of defense. By being able to take care of yourself during a crisis, you do your community a favor by allowing emergency personnel to tend to less. Most importantly, you do yourself a favor by being reliable and responsible for yourself; who else can you trust in your life other than yourself?

A resilient community

Preparedness is not a passive endeavor but an active commitment to resilience. Natural disasters are not stopping, so it is our responsibility as a community to be resilient against their inevitable coming. Natural disasters may be inevitable, but their impact is not. As a community, let’s embrace the imperative of preparedness and become more resilient. 

To find more information on how you can practice preparedness and become involved in Fullerton’s preparedness community, please visit ready.gov or the official city website at https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/departments/fire/emergency-management 

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