Every new year, we wipe the slate clean and resolve to change for the better. Most of us make well-intended commitments to ourselves hoping to improve some area of our lives or venture to experience something we haven’t accomplished.

These age-old promises are great reminders of where we stand and how far we have to travel to achieve our goals. The challenge, though, is in the process.

It’s easy to say you want to organize your life better or invest more this year. How you get there is as important as the goal itself. The journey of change is truly made easier or more difficult based on the preparation and the blueprint you follow. In addition to having a plan, it’s important to have accountability in place — someone or something that helps you stay on track until you build momentum in achieving your goals.

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Protect what matters most

While it’s important to set goals and make changes, we also need to protect what we already have. Often, we take for granted what we already have in place and how quickly our current situation can change. Regardless of your personal goals, emergencies will happen and preparation is key if you plan to protect yourself and your assets.

If 2020 is anything like 2019, having an emergency contingency plan is not just important, it’s critical to your survival. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published its 2020 Preparedness Calendar, which includes preparedness tips that we all should consider to ensure our readiness if the worst happens.

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FEMA 2020 Ready tips

Here are a few of the preparedness tips FEMA offers:

• Plan how you will leave and where you will go if you are advised to evacuate. Don’t forget to include pets in your plans!
• Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
• Pick an out-of-town person for everyone to contact during an emergency.
• Get to know your neighbor and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan.
• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.
• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online.
• Snap pictures of your property and make an inventory for insurance purposes.
• Make a list of the things you would need or want to take with you if you had to leave your home quickly.
• Take a class in CPR and first aid.
• Keep and update an emergency supply kit; remember to include cash.
• Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.
• Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
• Learn how to shut off the utilities where you live, including water, electricity, and gas.
• Save for a rainy day! Start and grow your emergency fund.

You can find more tips at FEMA’s Resolve to be Ready Social Media Toolkit.

If you already have a plan in place, make sure to review and update the plan with current personal and support information. Neighbors move, contacts change and resource centers often close or move to new locations. It’s imperative to keep this information current because the moment of emergency is too late to plan. #ResolveToBeReady

Let’s be 2020 ready!

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