Delaware Co. Emergency Management Encourages Preparedness Plans & Emergency Kits

September is Preparedness Month in Iowa.

Local emergency personnel spend a lot of time preparing for disasters and emergencies, but Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator Mandy Bieber says it’s important for residents to have an individual plan too.

Bieber says Preparedness Month is an opportunity for everyone to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. 

Delaware County Emergency Management encourages Iowans to take three simple steps to ensure they are prepared. The first step – and most important – is to have a family plan.

The second step would be to make an emergency kit.

Bieber says you should also create a shelter-in-place kit.

The third step is to be aware of hazards in your area. Learn about the emergencies your community may face and how to respond. You can sign up for local alerting and emergency notifications through Alert Iowa at alert.iowa.gov.

Bieber also recommends that all farmers have a plan in place for how they would care for their livestock if a disaster or emergency happened.

Preparedness information for all kinds of situations can be found online at ready.gov.

photo courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH