National Preparedness Month emphasizes emergency readiness

September marks National Preparedness Month, an initiative dedicated to helping communities and families prepare for emergencies. Experts suggest that readiness can be achieved at low or no cost through tools like the Red Cross emergency app, which provides weather notifications and information on local shelter locations.

For home and travel readiness, officials recommend maintaining different types of kits. A ‘go kit’ should contain up to three days of supplies, while a stay-at-home kit should ideally include two weeks of food and water, along with up to one month of necessary medications and supplies for infants or pets.

In Muskingum County, Ohio, EMA Director Jeff Jadwin emphasized the importance of these kits following recent rapid flooding. Essential items for emergency kits include prescription medications, water, non-perishable food, phone chargers, and sleeping bags. Jadwin specifically noted that physical cash is a frequently overlooked necessity, as power outages can disable electronic payment systems at gas stations and grocery stores.