Kendall County Times

In a Sept. 1 Facebook post, Rep. Jed Davis shared his perspective on National Preparedness Month. He urged his constituents to do more than buy a disaster prep kit.

"National Preparedness Month is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time," Davis said. "Preparedness is more than just building a kit. Building a culture of preparedness is the cornerstone of disaster preparedness."

Davis, 43, is board president at Parkview Christian Academy in Yorkville. He's a regional manager with National Oilwell Varco and has been a Newark village trustee since 2013. He graduated from Valparaiso University in 2000.

The theme of the 2023 National Preparedness Month is helping older adults prepare for disaster, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The theme highlights the need to help older adults in communities that are “disproportionately impacted by the all-hazard events that continue to threaten the nation.” Older adults are more vulnerable after disasters for several reasons, including that they rely more on assistive devices, they are more likely to have chronic conditions and need medications to manage those conditions, and that older adults are more likely to be socially isolated.

In his Facebook post, Rep. Davis shared a link to a Ready Illinois page focusing on the “plan and prepare” stages of disaster preparedness. That page gives several tips, like making a plan with designated locations to meet in the event of a disaster and creating go bags and emergency supply kits. It also notes that it’s important for family members to be trained in first aid and CPR.

Ready.gov suggests that older adults remain aware of the kinds of disasters that could happen in their areas and what it means to shelter in place; to keep a NOAA weather radio on the local emergency station and to download the FEMA weather app for weather alerts for their location. In terms of planning ahead, the website suggests that a plan for transportation in the event of evacuation be created, as well as plans for food, water, and essentials, for humans and pets in the home; as well as having copies of Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance cards in the emergency supply kit.