National Preparedness Month (also known as Emergency Preparedness Month) is an annual campaign to promote family and community disaster planning. The idea? To empower individuals and families to take simple, proactive steps before an emergency strikes.
Each year has a unique theme. In recent years, the focus has been on ensuring that every family member — kids, seniors, and even pets — is included in your emergency planning.
Preparedness isn’t just for high-risk areas or certain seasons. It’s for everyone. Being ready can reduce stress, save lives, and help your community bounce back faster when something unexpected happens.
The time to prepare is before disaster strikes: Here’s how
Want to know how you can get started during Preparedness Month? Here are some simple steps you can take now to keep you and your family safe:
1. Make a plan
Talk with your family about what to do in different emergencies (be sure to cover the most common scenarios, which include fires, power outages, extreme storms and earthquakes) — like where to meet if you’re separated, how you’ll contact each other, and who can help if someone has medical needs. Write your plans down and make sure everyone understands them.
2. Build an emergency kit
A catastrophic event will put enormous strain on emergency services, so you’ll want to have plenty of food, water and other supplies on hand. A well-stocked emergency kit should include:
• Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
• Non-perishable food
• Flashlight and batteries
• First aid supplies
• Important documents
• Medications and hygiene products
Don’t forget to include items for pets, babies, and anyone with special needs.
3. Learn lifesaving skills
Take a class in first aid or CPR. These are useful in everyday life — and critical during an emergency. Many local Red Cross chapters and community centers offer free or low-cost training.
How to help your neighborhood prepare
Emergencies often bring out the best in people, but why wait? Getting involved in your community before disaster strikes is a great way to extend your impact beyond your household. Here are some ways you can help build a safer, better-prepared community now:
• Join or volunteer with local emergency response teams.
• Participate in community drills or preparedness fairs.
• Encourage local organizations and businesses to create or review their emergency plans.
There are also excellent government and nonprofit resources to help you take action:
• Ready.gov for checklists and guides
• American Red Cross for emergency classes and response tips
• FEMA for disaster recovery info and alerts
Emergency Preparedness Month is your yearly reminder that a little planning now can go a long way later. Use this September to get ready — and help others do the same.