Don't let hurricane season catch you unaware - be prepared

With just a few weeks until the beginning of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency urges Americans to ensure their families, homes and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. National hurricane preparedness week is May 23 through May 29.

It's important that everyone take steps now to help keep their family safe in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. During this time, families should review their emergency preparedness kits and plans. We can't emphasize the steps for preparedness too much - these steps include making a family communications plan, putting together an emergency kit, and staying informed of risks and weather forecasts in your area.

Get a Kit
Assemble a collection of first aid supplies, food, water, medicines and important papers to sustain you and your family until a crisis passes. Consider the unique needs of your family and pets, then assemble emergency supply kits in your home, car and workplace.

Make a Plan
You and your family members may not be together when an emergency strikes. Planning ahead for various emergencies will improve your chances of keeping in touch, staying safe and quickly reuniting.

Be Informed
Emergencies can arise from weather and other natural hazards, industrial and transportation accidents, disease epidemic and terrorist acts. Knowing what to do can make all the difference when seconds count.

Belvoir has many ways for its residents and employees to stay informed, including the "Giant Voice" mass warning and notification system, the Fort Belvoir Home Page, belvoir.army.mil and the 703-805-3030 Information Hotline. Additionally, you can find news and information about events happening on post at Belvoir's Facebook and Twitter sites.

You should also familiarize yourself with the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System. Finally, being informed also means knowing first aid and appropriate response measures.
You can learn about other measures you can take to prepare for hurricane season at Ready.Army.mil.

To aid with preparedness, Virginia's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs May 25 through 31. During this period, consumers may buy certain items in preparation for hurricanes and other emergencies exempt of the retail sales and use tax.

Exempt items include portable generators used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage; portable, self-powered light sources, like flashlights and glow sticks; water storage containers, and portable, self-powered radios.

The generators must have a selling price of $1,000 or less, and each article of other hurricane preparedness equipment, must sell for $60 or less.

To view list of items that are tax free, visit ReadyVirginia.gov.

Fort Belvoir is prepared to respond to emergencies, but we can only be as prepared as the community.

(Sumter is an emergency management specialist with the Plans and Operations section of Belvoir's Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.)