LOUISVILLE, Ky. — First responders say that preparing for emergencies and disasters can ensure safety for families.

September is National Preparedness Month.

What You Need To Know

  • September is National Preparedness Month

  • Having an emergency plan can save lives if disasters st rike

  • The American Red Cross suggests putting together a disaster kit with essentials for every family member to last 72 hours

  • Families should also practice their emergency plan so everyone knows what to do

The American Red Cross says having a plan can make it easier to find loved ones in case of an emergency.

They suggest everyone look ahead and decide where to meet, how to contact each other, what to do in different situations.

Another important tip would be to leave instructions for turning off electricity, gas and water.

Experts suggest packing a kit and have it ready to go before an emergency. The kit should have enough essentials for every member of the family to last 72 hours.

Some items to pack include chargers, bottles of water, clothes, nonperishable food and medicine.

“We also ask that people may have some extra copies of documents that they may need. Home insurance policies, birth certificates, copies of insurance cards, maybe your Social Security card. Those kind of things,” said Darrel Williamson with the Louisville chapter of the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross says homeowner’s and renter’s insurance can be helpful.

“Just putting the thought forward of the ‘what if’s.’ What could happen? No one likes to think about having a disaster happen to them, but usually if you’ve thought about it enough. You have your supplies gathered and you have a plan, it usually works out much better in the long run,“ said Williamson. 

If you have a plan and a kit put together, the Red Cross suggests families practice their emergency plan. If everyone knows what to do before an emergency, there is less likely to be chaos when something actually happens. 

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