Members from the 23d Civil Engineer Squadron partnered with the American Red Cross to host a National Preparedness event, Sept. 27, here.

The goal of the event was to raise awareness and provide information to the base populous about how to better prepare for natural disasters.

“This event is meant to spread the word and make sure that people think ahead,” said, Master Sgt. Terri Adams, 23d CES section chief of emergency management. “After a natural disaster, communities are overwhelmed with people to take care of. We want to make sure that they have the tools and resources to take care of themselves and stand on their own two feet.”

The need to ensure that people are aware and prepared for a natural disaster has heightened since the most recent hurricanes, Harvey and Irma, hit.

“The recent hurricanes help drive this message home,” said Adams. “People in this area have experienced water outages, power outages and food shortages. We want to ensure that when the next one comes, people are able to provide for themselves.”

When someone is without power, they leave themselves vulnerable to overheating, food spoilage destroyed, and unfiltered water. Though some may use a generator to combat these power outages, many are unsure of the strict rules and guidelines to follow to avoid damaging your home or yourself.

 To solve this issue, 23d CES Airmen were present to explain some of the do’s and don’ts of how to properly handle a generator.

“Many people have generators but don’t know their purpose or how to use them,” said Senior Airman Alex Johnson, 23d CES electric power production specialist. “[For Example,] people should never have their generators indoors because the toxic fumes can be dangerous to their health.”

Along with the information regarding generators, attendees were able to receive beneficial information and knowledge about multiple ways to stay more prepared for when the next disaster arrives.

Preparedness topics included: water storage, first aid, protecting valuables, food preservation and overall house preparation.

“I never knew about all of these precautions and safety measures I should take before a hurricane hits,” said retired Master Sgt. Roger Cooper. “I will definitely use what I learned today during the next hurricane and I know I’ll be ready.”