Five simple steps to prepare for an emergency | PEMCO

September is National Preparedness Month, which makes it a great time to evaluate our level of readiness for a natural disaster like an earthquake, severe storm, or flood. This year's theme, Americans Stand Ready, is about turning good intentions into action before an emergency hits, not during one. We can't control everything Mother Nature sends our way, but the households that stand ready are the ones who've already made a kit, decided on a plan, and talked it through with the people they love.  

Where should I start with emergency preparedness? 

Here are five simple steps you can take now to prepare for extreme weather events or other emergencies in the Pacific Northwest. 

1. Download the FEMA app for real-time weather alerts and help in locating shelters during an emergency.  

2. Assemble an emergency kit for your home and car. Important things to remember include ready-to-eat food, water (one gallon per person, per day, for at least three days), flashlights and batteries, and essential medicine. 

3. Locate and safeguard important documents like passports and birth certificates.  Back up important files to the cloud, and keep a list of where to find them so anyone in the household can access them quickly. 

4. Learn life-saving skills like CPR and how to use a fire extinguisher.  Everyone in your home who is physically able should know how to use one. It's worth the five minutes: a recent PEMCO Northwest Poll found that renters are noticeably less likely than homeowners to keep a fire extinguisher on hand (58% versus 82%), so this is an easy gap to close today. 

5. Make kids part of the planning.  Your family might not all be together when disaster strikes, so make sure everyone knows the plan, including communication methods, meetup points, and where to shelter or evacuate. Use Make a Plan | Ready.gov to build it out together. 

Check your coverage as part of your emergency plan  

PEMCO has been serving the Northwest for over 75 years, standing with you as we tackle the challenges we share as neighbors in Washington and Oregon.Call your local PEMCO agent or 1-800-GO-PEMCO (1-800-467-3626) any time for a free policy review to make sure your coverage fits your needs, lifestyle, and risk tolerance. 

If you haven't yet set up your pemco.com account, do it now. In an emergency, you'll be able to manage your insurance policies from your smartphone.