PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
September 2, 2015

Cathleen D. Bennett
Acting Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Take Action to Prepare Before Emergencies Happen

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month

To recognize September as National Emergency Preparedness Month, the Department of Health encourages all New Jersey residents to prepare for the next emergency or natural disaster by taking proactive steps to protect themselves and their families.

“The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens,” Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett said. “While no one can predict when an emergency will occur, there are steps everyone should take to get ahead of any natural disaster.”

The Department encourages all New Jersey residents to:
· Prepare an emergency kit
· Draft an emergency plan
· Stay informed
· Get involved

Prepare an emergency kit. Gather enough supplies for several days. Emergency kits should include basic survival items such as non-perishable food, water, medicine (both over-the-counter and prescription, if possible), flashlights, transistor radios, batteries, phone chargers, baby supplies and other special medical needs. For more on how to put a family emergency kit together, visit http://nj.gov/health/er/documents/kit.pdf.


Draft an emergency plan. Families should have an emergency plan that includes all family members, friends and neighbors so a coordinated procedure is in place. Plans should identify evacuation routes, contact methods and meeting spots. An emergency plan should also include a comprehensive contact list with school and health care information. Be sure this list is updated often.


Stay Informed. Use reliable sources of information, including local or state health department or emergency management websites, to guide decision making. Local newspapers, radio and television stations are also useful sources for information during an emergency. Bookmark the Department of Health website (nj.gov/health) as a favorite. Stay connected with the Department on Twitter (@NJDeptofHealth) and Facebook (facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth). The Department of Health also created a video describing how families and individuals can prepare for any type of public health emergency. Visit http://www.nj.gov/health/er/index.shtml/.


Get involved. Consider taking first aid emergency response courses. Help make your community stronger by joining local Medical Reserve Corps, which coordinates volunteer activities. Find out more about on New Jersey’s Medical Reserve Corp at https://njmrc.nj.gov/hcpr/.

Last Reviewed: 9/2/2015