Flood Prompts Personal Readiness Lessons

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

June 10, 2010 - MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- After 1,000-year flood affected Muillington, Tenn., May 1, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Sailors have been re-thinking their personal readiness plans.

"We really didn't have an emergency plan other than we would go to my parent's house out of state if we had to leave here," said Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW) Bernadette Brown, NPC, who was evacuated from base housing during flood. "I think many Sailors only think about their personal readiness plan as part of general military training or as a check in the box for a command requirement. You really do need to be prepared for anything."

Sailors have many resources to consider when developing an emergency plan. "Operation Prepare" is designed to help Sailors and their families get ready for any disaster. There are three basic components to being prepared: being informed, having a plan and making an emergency kit. http://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhatWeDo/EmergencyManagement/OperationPreparedness/index.htm

"Sailors should talk with their families about what to do in the event of fire, flood, a terrorist threat or base evacuation," said Force Master Chief (AW/SW/NAC) Jon Port, NPC. "That prepared Sailor has the waterproof lockbox with the family's important documents in it. Does your child know who they should call if they can't reach the parent? Do we need to clarify what our homeowners' insurance will cover? All these points should be part of the family discussion," said Port.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored website http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/navy.html summarizes the Navy's preparedness information. It also offers a checklist of supply items for an emergency kit.

Sailors can ensure family information is correct in the Navy Family Accountability & Assessment System (NFAAS), created after Hurricane Katrina to help the Navy account for personnel and determine their needs after a disaster. NFAAS has been an important tool in all recent disasters impacting Sailors, such as the Southern California wildfires and the Tennessee floods.

NFAAS allows families to account for their safety online and fill out a needs assessment if they are without housing, need financial assistance or other help. Of the 7,667 Sailors identified as possibly affected by the Millington flood, 941 members completed a needs assessment on NFAAS, expediting services to them.

Sailors can logon to the NFAAS website now and register before an emergency happens. Log-on to NFAAS at https://navyfamily.navy.mil to verify address and contact information. Member information should be updated when a life event such as a marriage, divorce or a new baby requires a Page 2 entry or other critical paperwork.

"Think of NFAAS as another critical piece of paperwork like page 2 and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance beneficiary documentation," said Port.

For more information visit the Personal and Family Readiness section on the NPC website at http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/CommunitySupportProgramPolicies/.

As a reminder, the Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1.