Press release:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages Americans to take advantage of the recent Daylight Savings time change as a reminder to ensure their families are prepared for a possible emergency. 

A few simple steps like checking smoke alarms, developing a family communications plan, and putting an emergency kit together can help keep families safe.

Information on preparing for emergencies can be found at Ready.gov.  Steps include developing a communications plan to ensure family members know how to get in touch with each other during an emergency, putting together an emergency kit, and staying informed of potential risks.  It’s important to remember that an emergency could be a large scale catastrophic disaster, or a smaller-scale event like a car accident or house fire.

The United States Fire Administration also encourages families to ensure their homes are equipped with working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire, so it’s important to test alarms regularly and keep them properly maintained.  This includes checking the manufacture/expiration date on the label, replacing the batteries, and cleaning dust away from the slots so that smoke can enter freely. For more information about home smoke alarms and fire sprinklers, please visit: www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.