National Preparedness Month: building emergency kit

September is National Preparedness Month, Albany, Corvallis, Benton and Linn collaborating to raise awareness

Recent disasters like wildfires, floods, extreme heat, winter weather, and a pandemic along with other threats like earthquakes demonstrate the need to prepare for emergencies and disasters. 

That is why this September for National Preparedness Month, the City of Albany is partnering with the City of Corvallis and Benton and Linn counties to raise awareness about how to create an emergency plan, build a kit, get alerts and warnings, and know what to do during an evacuation. 

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water, medications, and other supplies to last for several days. Building an emergency kit of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency doesn't have to be hard. You may even have most of the pieces in your home already. If you or a family member is a senior or individual with a disability, there are additional items you may want to consider when building your kit. If pets are a part of your family, consider building a kit especially for their needs. A good resource for help in developing your kit is ready.gov/kit.

“Building emergency kits can seem like a daunting task, but you can build a kit all at once or build it over time,” said City of Albany Emergency Manager Chuck Perino. “Select a few items to buy each time you go shopping. Involve the whole family in emergency preparedness. On a rainy day complete a treasure hunt around your house to find items for your kit that you may have already.”

Follow @cityofalbany @cityofcorvallis @linncountyor @BentonCoGov on Facebook for more information about emergency preparedness throughout September.