Hurricanes and wildfires have recently impacted millions of Americans, would you be ready if a natural disaster struck home?

Floods, tornadoes, ice storms, and blizzards can all impact southeast Iowa and Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen is encouraging residents to think ahead. September is National Preparedness Month.

Reisen says residents should create an emergency supply pack that includes food, a way to access that food like a can opener, a copy of insurance, health, and identification documents, and one gallon of water per person per day with a three-day supply. She recommends keeping those copies of documents in a sealed plastic bag that is waterproof. Also include a weather radio to keep track of alerts, a few days supply of any medications you may be on, flashlights, and batteries. Remember to also have supplies on hand for pets. Reisen encourages listeners to build up the emergency pack over time to spread out the cost.