Since September is National Preparedness Month — and because severe weather events seem to be occurring more frequently — consider planning for bad weather now before storms hit.

I urge you not only to have enough food, water and supplies to last at least a few days, but to take other practical steps to keep you and your family safe. Even at a modest level, preparation can help reduce stress and anxiety, and lessen the impact of an emergency event. 

Here are general guidelines recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

• Assemble a grab-and-go disaster kit. Include items like nonperishable food, water (one gallon per person, per day), diapers, batteries, flashlights, prescription medications, first-aid kit, a battery-powered radio, and phone chargers.
• Develop a plan for communicating with family and friends (i.e., via text, social media, third party, etc.).
• Have some extra cash available; during a power outage, electronic card readers and cash machines may not work.
• Store important documents (birth certificates, property deed, etc.) in a safe place away from home (for example, a bank safe deposit box).
• Keep neighbors and coworkers apprised of your emergency plans.
• Fill your car with gas.
• Organize your supplies so they are together in an easily accessible location that family members know about.

Caring for vulnerable family members 

If you have older family members or those with special needs, make sure they have enough medication and supplies for a few days. If they don’t live with you, arrange for a neighbor to check in on them. If a severe weather event is expected, consider having your relatives stay with you if feasible. Otherwise, call them daily. If you have an infant or young children, make certain that you have ample formula, diapers, medication and other supplies on hand to weather an outage lasting several days or more. 

Keeping four-legged family members safe

• For families with pets, having a plan in place in the event of a prolonged outage or an emergency will help reduce worry and stress. 
• Bring pets indoors at the first sign of a storm or other emergency. Pets can become disoriented and frightened during severe weather and may wander off during an emergency.
• Microchip your pet and ensure the contact information is up to date.
• Store pet medical records on a USB drive or in an easy-to-remember location.
• Create an emergency kit for pets (include shelf-safe food, bottled water, medications and other supplies).

At Marshall County REMC, we care about your safety. Planning for an emergency today can make it easier for you to deal with severe weather and potential outages in the future.