Be Prepared and Ready Before Disasters Hit with Cheryl Nelson On TipsOnTV

FEMA Instructor Cheryl Nelson Shares Practical Ways to Build a Plan & Stay Ready for Any Emergency

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual nationwide campaign led by FEMA and Ready.gov that encourages Americans to prepare before emergencies happen. As hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other disasters continue to affect communities across the country, experts stress that taking a few simple preparedness steps today can make a significant difference when every second counts. Just in time for National Preparedness Month, FEMA disaster expert Cheryl Nelson explains how families can create an emergency plan, build a disaster supply kit, stay informed before severe weather strikes, and strengthen their overall preparedness. She also discusses why National Preparedness Month is the ideal time for households to review and update their emergency plans before disaster season reaches its peak.

WHERE SHOULD PEOPLE START

Having a plan is the best place to start, like having proper ways to communicate and having the essentials ready. T-Mobile reminds everyone that when emergencies strike, connectivity is crucial, helping people stay connected to loved ones, reach help and access critical information when it matters most. T-Mobile uses AI, satellite connectivity and response teams to help when communities need them. When disasters strike and demand is highest, T-Mobile is working to deliver the connectivity customers can count on this National Preparedness Month and beyond. For more information, visit www.t-mobile.com

PREPARING A HOME FOR A DISASTER

When preparing a home so you are ready in case of a disaster, backup power should be a cornerstone of your preparedness plan, but it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Generac offers home standby generators that can automatically restore power within seconds, portable generators for flexible backup, and portable power stations for smaller spaces or people on the go. With power outages happening more often and lasting longer, having the right backup power solution can make a big difference when the grid goes down and give families greater peace of mind during an outage. For more information, visit www.generac.com

A DISASTER PLAN

It is important to have a backup plan. When leaving home unexpectedly, whether an evacuated family or first responder, having a comfortable place to stay can make a difficult situation a little easier. An extended-stay hotel like ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham can help. Designed for longer stays, with the space and essentials guests need to keep some sense of normalcy. Think comfortable suites with kitchens, on-site laundry, fitness centers, free Wi-Fi and dog-friendly accommodations. Find ECHO Suites locations at ECHOSuites.com.

SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE OVERLOOK

One thing people often overlook is protecting important records and memories. Epson’s FastFoto FF-680W turns irreplaceable photos and documents into secure digital backups, keeping what matters most safe before disaster strikes. It can scan photos as fast as one per second, front and back, auto-upload files to Dropbox and Google Drive, and even help restore faded prints. That gives families an off-site backup if they need to evacuate and helps protect both records and treasured memories. The FastFoto is available for under $600 for a limited time at select retailers. For more information,visit epson.com