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# National Preparedness Month reminds everyone of the importance to maintain readiness

By Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public Affairs 

                NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa.  –              
September is National Preparedness Month, a time to highlight the actions we can all take to maintain a level of readiness in our home and personal lives for a wide variety of situations.

In the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the primary mission of the Defense Logistics Agency remains Warfighter Always. As every employee at DLA Distribution strives to place the warfighter first in actions and daily work, the level of readiness and lethality of our nation’s warfighter is maintained at a constant level. The DLA Distribution workforce can only provide that level of support if everyone on the team is prepared and ready to face challenges that may arise wherever they are.

“Our installation has been rigorously following [Centers for Disease Control] CDC guidelines for sanitizing and maintaining safety of our workforce through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wayne Rhodes, Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna installation emergency manager.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, all DLA employees should follow the CDC guidelines at the workplace and outside of it. “Masks and hand-washing remain as the best front-line defense to fight the spread,” said Rhodes. Staying home when sick or exposed is also imperative to reduce exposure to others.

Guidance regarding masks dictates that any mask must cover the mouth and the nose; one way breathing valves are not effective as they do not capture water droplets from the breath; and face shields alone are ineffective at stopping the spread of the virus.

DLA Distribution and the Veterans Health Administration are already working together to be stocked and ready for a potential fall outbreak of COVID-19. Just as these government agencies poise themselves in preparation, so too can the workforce be prepared to safe guard the health of themselves, their families and their communities.

In addition to the pandemic, there are other hazards you should prepare for. “Thinking about our hazards and having a plan for them is a key part of any level of preparation,” said Rhodes, highlighting the need to develop a strategy of readiness which reflects the immediate and probable scenarios in any given region.A level of preparation against hurricanes will be different from a plan regarding wildfires. A winter weather plan is good for those in northern climates, but not as applicable to those in Texas.

Locally to DLA Distribution headquarters in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, we should consider severe thunderstorms, major floods, winter storms as well as manmade threats like hazardous materials and criminal activity.

The four basic steps to starting a readiness plan include:1. Put a plan together by discussing the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.2. Consider specific needs in your household.3. Fill out a Family Emergency Plan4. Practice your plan with your family/household

Those interested in more information on preparedness should go to Ready.gov.

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