It’s National Preparedness Month. Are you ready?

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The 2022 hurricane season has been fairly calm, but we have a way to go. The season peaks in mid-September and runs through November. A lot can happen in that time, and not all hurricane related.  This year’s heat waves, wildfires, violent storms, and extreme flooding are proof that severe weather and natural disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, and with little warning. 

National Preparedness Month is a great time to get ready for whatever may come your way. Making a plan is the best way to protect you and your family. The FTC’s site, Dealing with Weather Emergencies (or in Spanish at Emergencias Climáticas), has practical information to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather emergency. It also has advice on how to recognize, avoid, and report frauds and scams.

Like all the FTC’s free resources, the site is mobile-friendly — giving you ready access to information when and where you need it. You’ll find information on:

• Preparing for a Weather Emergency
• Staying Alert to Disaster-related Scams
• Getting Back on Your Feet Financially
• Resources

Active in your community? Share this customizable one-page handout, Picking Up the Pieces after a Disaster. It has advice to help you avoid common post-disaster scams, protect your personal information, and get you back on your feet financially. Add local consumer protection and emergency service contacts, print copies, and distribute them throughout your communities.

And don’t forget to bookmark this site. If severe weather or a disaster happens near you, come back for advice and information about your rights.