Is your family prepared for an emergency? Would you know what to do in the event of a disaster? Do you have an emergency supply kit ready? If your answer to any of these questions is no (or even yes), September is a good time to reevaluate and reassess your preparedness for disaster. After all, it’s National Preparedness Month, an annual month-long observation that reminds the public just how important it is to have an emergency plan in place.

This year, National Preparedness Month’s theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” Here are four ways the Ready Campaign suggests that individuals and families can participate. 

• Plan ahead. Confer with your family, friends, neighbors, or other trusted community members to agree upon a plan of action during what-if scenarios. For example, what would you do if you had to evacuate? What if you got separated? Be accountable for one another and decide how you’d reconnect after a disaster.
• Assemble a kit. Put together an emergency kit containing enough supplies to sustain you and your loved ones for several days following a disaster. It should contain items like important medicines, batteries, important phone numbers and emergency contact info, food, water, and, if applicable, pet food.
• Unmute your notifications. Have you opted out of receiving text and/or email notifications from FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)? If so, reconsider. This network of alerts and warnings can help keep you in the loop during emergency situations, including natural disasters and other threats.
• Involve your kids. When developing an emergency plan, it’s important that children are a part of the conversation, as you may not be available to guide them should disaster strike. You’ll find resources and tools to help guide the dialogue at www.ready.gov/kids.