Sheriff's Office Asks Citizens to Prepare for Possible Emergencies

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is reminding citizens of steps they can take to prepare for emergencies before they happen:

Get a kit

Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer.

While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water, food, and clean air. Consider two kits. In one, put everything you will need to stay where you are. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to get away.

You’ll need a gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Include in the kits a three day supply of non-perishable foods that are easy to store and prepare such as protein bars, dried fruit, or canned foods. Consider cold weather conditions, so include warm clothes and a sleeping bag for each member of the family. Consider unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers, and important family documents.

Make a Plan

Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Develop a Family Communications plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, or texts the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Be informed

By beginning a process of learning about disasters and threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Go to

www.ready.gov

to learn more about potential threats and other emergencies or call 1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239) for a free brochure.

*All of the above information was taken from a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office release.