Unless you live in an area with a recurring or recent history of disaster, you might not think about the possibility often. But severe weather and earthquakes can happen anywhere, even in regions where those conditions aren’t typical. Preparing for emergency can make a massive difference when one strikes. National Preparedness Month is observed to recognize the importance of planning ahead.

Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chooses a different theme for Preparedness Month, and their Ready Campaign for 2024 focuses on raising awareness of emergency planning in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This is a steadily growing community in the United States, with the AANHPI population having increased 81%, from 10.5 million people to 18.9 million from 2000 to 2019. FEMA notes that according to their surveys, 65% of Asian American and 58% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander respondents weren’t confident in their ability to prepare for disaster or didn’t think planning would make a difference. With particular attention to recent disasters in Hawaii and Guam, FEMA has built its 2024 campaign around reaching these communities with culturally competent preparedness materials.

Preparedness Month has often highlighted vulnerable communities, but it’s also a time to remind people of universal safety tips. The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends these general precautions wherever you live:

• Store an emergency kit in your car and, when possible, have an emergency bag by an entrance of your home
• Keep three days’ worth of food and water at home
• Make sure someone in your family or household knows CPR and first aid
• Have a family communication plan in place that everyone in your household has memorized and practices
• Write down and memorize your family members’ phone numbers and all other important contact information
• Know how to shut off your home’s utilities
• Store all important documents such as birth certificates and insurance policies in a fireproof safety box
• Download the FEMA mobile app for weather alerts, safety guides, and resources