Servpro of Newtown and Southern Litchfield County believes there is no predicting when or where a disaster may strike, leaving property destruction and damage in its wake. But National Preparedness Month, sponsored each year in September by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), focuses the nation’s attention on the steps home and business owners can and should take to be ready to respond to emergencies, including natural and human-made disasters.

Edward White, owner of Servpro of Newtown and Southern Litchfield County, believes that it is better to take steps to prevent or minimize damage from an unexpected weather event or other disaster than it is to try to clean up after it.

“That’s why we emphasize the importance of readiness to our clients through Servpro’s Emergency ‘Ready’ Program,” he said in a release. “Being ready can make the difference between staying in business or closing the doors forever — or from a residential standpoint, moving back into your home or losing it.”

As a national sponsor of the American Red Cross Ready Rating Program and the originator of Servpro’s Emergency Ready Program, Servpro is uniquely positioned to offer Newtown home and business owners guidance on a robust, two-step approach to disaster planning and recovery, encompassing both readiness and recovery planning, according to Mr White.

Knowledge is power, and the American Red Cross Ready Rating program is designed to help home and business owners assess their level of preparedness for weather-related or other emergencies in advance, according to Mr White. This free, web-based program, available at readyrating.org, walks responsible parties at businesses, organizations, and schools through a 123-point self-assessment of their establishment’s level of preparedness for weather-related or other emergencies, and then offers tips and best practices to help improve their readiness.

Through his company’s Emergency Ready Program, local schools, businesses, and other establishments can arrange for a Servpro of Newtown and Southern Litchfield County disaster recovery professional to establish an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for their facility, at no charge. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about the business, including emergency contact information, shut-off valve locations, and priority areas.

In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by ensuring there is an immediate plan of action already in place for the facility.

If disaster strikes and damages the business, the ERP can save the property owner both time and money during the recovery period. Smartphone app and web versions of the Emergency Ready Program are also available.

“This two-step approach to disaster readiness makes perfect sense,” said Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of Servpro Industries, Inc, “because it provides a complete readiness solution for businesses and other property owners. In Step One, the Red Cross Ready Rating Program gives individuals the knowledge they need to take all necessary steps before disaster strikes to protect their property from damage and loss.”

Step Two kicks in when disaster does strike and fast response is key to minimizing damage and downtime. Knowing what to do and who to call saves critical time — and that is where Servpro’s Emergency Ready Program can help, Mr Isaacson added.

Newtown residents and business owners can contact Mr White at 203-743-5362 or e-mail Servpro.8240@servproofnewtownslc.com or visit Servpro.com for information on readiness resources including Servpro’s free Ready Plan Mobile Application, available on all smart phones. For more information about the app, visit www.servpro.com/ready.

For more information on the Red Cross Ready Rating program, visit readyrating.org.