September is recognized as National Preparedness Month to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that can happen at any time.

This year’s theme is “Prepare to protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” Each week of September focuses on a particular aspect of preparedness for individuals, families, and communities, with this week being “make a plan.” Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen says these plans don’t have to be written down, but of most importance is talking with those in your household, “So you need to communicate with your family, with your friends, with anyone that you would be in contact with during a disaster. If something happens who are you going to call, what’s your rally point going to be. And it can be as simple as with a house fire, I mean that’s a very small-scale disaster but it still is necessary that you communicate with your family and have a plan so that you know, ‘This is where we rendezvous’ if there’s a fire and we get separated this is where we will all meet.’”

Reisen adds it’s also important to update your plan based on conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One key part of preparedness is reviewing and updating how you receive emergency alerts and warnings. You can hear more from Reisen during the second half of a two-part Halcyon House Washington Page today, and find more information on making an emergency plan by visiting here.