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| LIFE IN SOLERA | SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5 Solera CERT Cadre Make a Plan September 2022 is National Preparedness Month. In the event of a disaster could you make it on your own for several days? After a disaster, you may not have access to a medical facility or even a drugstore. It's crucial to plan for your daily needs and know what you would do if they became limited or unavailable. Additional planning steps include: • Create a support network of people who can help you in a disaster. Keep a contact list in a watertight container in your emergency kit or on your electronic devices. • Plan ahead for accessible transportation that you may need for evacuation or getting around during or after disaster. Check with local transit providers as well as with your emergency management agency to identify appropriate accessible options. • If you are on dialysis or other life- sustaining medical treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility that can help you. • If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your doctor or health care provider about what you may be able to do to keep it running during a power outage. You can also ask your power provider to put you on a list for priority power restoration. • About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency. • Wear medical alert tags or bracelets. Also add pertinent medical information to your electronic devices. • If you have a communication disability, consider carrying printed cards or storing information on your devices to inform first responders and others how to communicate with you. • If you use assistive technologies, plan how you will evacuate with the devices or how you will replace equipment if lost or destroyed. • Keep a list of the nearest medical facilities, local hospitals, and nearest transportation or make prior arrangements for transportation in an event of a disaster. This article was brought to you by Ray C. Gayton-Jacob, coordinator for the City of Beaumont CERT program at Solera. To learn more or be a part of Solera CERT, send a message to solera.cert@gmail.com.