September is a Time to Take Stock and Prepare

By Greg Mellen

Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

As the planet becomes increasingly volatile and fractious each year, September is a good time for individuals and communities to take stock of their preparedness.

Since 2004, September has been observed as National Preparedness Month in the United States. Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the month raises awareness and encourages all to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their communities.

Locally, ReadyOC, Orange County’s emergency preparedness resource, stands out.

“ReadyOC is a public outreach effort aimed at educating and empowering Orange County residents, businesses, and the community to better prepare for emergency situations,” the agency states.

The group has launched a Ready to React page where residents can find information, videos, downloadable lists, and links for information on how to build an emergency preparedness kit, how to make plans for various disasters, and sign up for text alerts when disasters happen or are imminent.

Ready to React teaches residents “what to do during those precious moments after a disaster occurs but before first responders can arrive. First responders try to get to the scene as soon as possible, but can be delayed by minutes, hours, or even days, depending on the type and scale of the disaster. Knowing how to be prepared and react can save you and your loved ones,” ReadyOC states.

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