Emergency preparedness starts at home, says IEHP

Are you prepared for the unexpected?

In recognition of National Preparedness Month this September, Inland Empire Health Plan’s Community Wellness Centers in Victorville, San Bernardino and Riverside held Emergency Preparedness and Safety Fairs connecting the community to resources they’ll need to keep themselves and their families safe in case of disaster.

From lessons on how to turn off a gas valve to the ABCs of CPR, each fair was full of helpful tips to adopt and tools to take home.

“We never know when emergencies can occur,” said Marisol Pilotin, a site supervisor for the San Bernardino Community Wellness Center. “The most important thing we can do is to be prepared and be ready, whether it’s just one person living in a household or multiple family members and pets like I have at home.”

Ashley Flores, an emergency planning and communications administrator for Inland Empire Health Plan, interacts with guests during an Emergency Preparedness Fair at IEHP’s Community Wellness Center in San Bernardino on Sept. 18.

The fairs were part of an idea spearheaded by IEHP’s business continuity team as an extension of its own Emergency Preparedness Fair hosted at the IEHP campus in Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 11. Rather than keeping things internally, the team developed a plan to take the fair to spaces that would attract those in need of free and accessible resources.

At the event in San Bernardino on Sept. 18, participating agencies included the San Bernardino Police Department, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and Animal Care, and Ready America.

“We know that preparedness starts at home, and if we’re not prepared, we could see some challenges,” said Phil Lo, IEHP’s director of business continuity. “During times of crisis and disaster, you might not be able to get help right away, so it’s really significant to have a plan, to know what you need and to be able to support yourself.”

IEHP members impacted by an emergency and need assistance can contact Member Services at 1-800-440-IEHP (4347). Non-members are encouraged to contact their local first responder service numbers for support.

For additional resources, including tips on how to build or restock an emergency supply kit, go to www.iehp.org and click the “Emergency Safety” button under the “Member support” menu.  

With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans, the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid public health plan in the country, and for the third year in a row, certified as A Great Place To Work®. In its 27th year, IEHP supports more than 1.5 million Riverside and San Bernardino County residents enrolled in Medicaid or IEHP DualChoice (those with both Medi-Cal and Medicare). Today, IEHP has a growing network of nearly 6,800 providers and more than 3,000 team members who are fully committed to the vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. To learn more, go to iehp.org.