September 4, 2021

Our FirstEnergy Utilities (FEU) crews are no stranger to the effects of severe storms. Right now, FEU line workers, forestry crews and support personnel are providing mutual assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The Category 4 storm caused extensive damage to homes and businesses – leaving more than one million customers without power in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Just a week earlier, severe storms in Tennessee caused flooding that forced thousands from their homes.

Does your family know what to do in the event of an impending disaster? There’s never a better time than right now to assess your family’s readiness for an event that hits close to home.

September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored annually by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared in advance of disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.

The 2021 National Preparedness Month theme is Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.

Each week in September, the campaign will focus on a different aspect of preparedness, including:

• Making an emergency plan;
• Building a disaster kit;
• Assessing the risks in your community and knowing how to prepare; and
• Talking to your family about disaster preparedness and what to do if separated during a crisis.

Check out the FEMA-sponsored website www.Ready.gov* for more information on developing a preparedness plan and being ready to handle emergency situations.

Hurricane Ida’s devastating winds left this transmission tower in a crumpled heap in Bridge City, La. (Photo: NOLA.com)

*By clicking the link in this article, you are entering a website maintained by an outside party, which is entirely responsible for the site’s content.