America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign

Tomorrow, 09/30/14, officially launches the start of FEMA's America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign!



The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is encouraging individuals, families, workplaces, schools and organizations across the nation to take part in America’s PrepareAthon!, a national day of action that will take place tomorrow, September 30th. America’s PrepareAthon! is a community-based campaign to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through participation in hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises every fall and spring.

If you don't have an emergency management plan, you can create one at Ready.gov. As many of you already know, I have composed a book on the topic of Homeland Security called Homeland Security; A Comprehensive Guide for All. You can buy the eBook version of it my clicking here.

Before you buy the book, however, check out these three simple tips for creating an emergency management plan for your family;

1. Make sure you have one emergency kit for every member of your family. Each kit should include enough water for a week, nonperishable food for a week, $200 dollars in cash, a first aid, back up prescriptions, 2 medical masks, a knife, flashlight, a lighter, a set of battery powered walkie talkies, and a battery-powered radio on hand (with a set of extra batteries). Also, make sure the written down phone numbers of your relatives and neighbors is in the kit. Too often, we depend on our cell phones to keep our contacts. However, in the event that your phone is missing or not working, it is good to have these numbers on paper.

2. Set up multiple meeting spots. Your designated meeting spot may not be accessible, so it is important to have two alternative spots just in case.

3. Set up a Google Alert for your city PLUS the word "emergency." This is more preventative than anything else, but these daily alerts will keep you informed on issues and threats in the area so you can further adjust your lifestyle and educate yourself on pending issues.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

You're Fired..... It's Not What You Say!

Statics show every American will be fired at least once in their lifetime. Well, if you're on the other end of the spectrum- firing someone can be hard. But, it doesn't have to be. There are some phrases that you can avoid using. These phrases will help the firing goes as well as it can without escalating into an office crisis.

1. Don't say "this is really hard for me." Remember, it isn't personal, it is business. Firing someone because he or she didn't perform well isn't a hard decision to make.

2. We're going in a different direction. This sentence is not a valid reason to let someone go. In fact, the best thing you can do for the person you are firing is let them know where he or she failed so the action can be corrected in the future.

3. "We're cutting staff." Don't say this unless it is true. Lying about this can lead to a lawsuit.

There are times to say what is really on your mind. When you're firing someone- remember, this isn't one of those times. Personal reasons can lead to issues within your company so be direct and be swift.

Twyla