Be informed. Build a kit. Make a plan. Be involved. We in the emergency management field offer those suggestions to nearly everyone we see. We do this because being prepared for emergencies and unexpected events makes individuals, families, businesses, and entire communities more resilient in the face of adversity. We know it can be viewed as abstract and amorphous to those who do not deal with emergencies every day, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

You can make emergency preparedness part of your normal routine. When grocery shopping, pick up an extra package of batteries, a spare flashlight, and a few extra canned goods when they are on sale. Grab some bottles of water too. When you go to the doctor’s office for your annual physical, ask for an extra print out of your prescriptions to put in your kit. Add a spare radio (it doesn’t need to be anything fancy). Have kids? Store some extra formula and diapers and add a few games to keep the little ones entertained in case you need to relocate for a while. Be sure to set aside some pet food for your four legged friends. A spare phone charger and some blankets will come in handy too. You’ll be well on your way to completing your kit in no time.

Developing a plan does not have to be an elaborate process either. Have a conversation with your family about where you will meet if you need to leave the house quickly. Make sure you discuss what happens if you cannot return home from work, school, or activities. Educate the babysitter about your plan and his or her role. Where will everyone go? Will you meet at a relative’s, a friend’s house, or a community meeting place? If a family member has special needs, make sure to consider that too.

These decisions don’t all need to be made all at once, but the discussion will get everyone involved and get you closer to a sound plan. After decisions are made, set a reminder or mark your calendar every few months to ask those affected to explain their role and what they will do in an emergency. Be sure to revisit your plan as circumstances change. If you made your plan when your son or daughter was three and you are now making him or her a care packages for college, you’ve waited a little too long to update your plan.

Know that you are not alone. There are organizations in your community that host community planning meetings, provide preparedness information, and volunteer opportunities to community members and are available to respond to a disaster when needed. Organizations like Citizen Corps provide this support in communities nationwide.

The Citizen Corps effort is coordinated at the local level by Citizen Corps Councils or similar coordinating bodies, which bring together community leaders to plan for emergencies before they happen. Citizen Corps Council members participate in developing community emergency plans, conduct localized outreach and education to the public, offer training and participation in exercises, encourage volunteerism, and in the event of a disaster, form an integral part of the response. Visit http://www.citizencorps.gov to learn more.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has created www.ready.gov as a one-stop shop to equip you with the knowledge you need to prepare for an emergency. In Sagadahoc County, your County Emergency Management Agency is a great place to start to begin to assemble information about what to do in an emergency and how you can stay informed. Visit us at www.sagcounty.com/ema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SagadahocCountyEMA to learn more. Be informed. Build a kit. Make a plan. Be involved. You can do it. We can help.

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Jason J. Shedlock is the Deputy Director of Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency and a member of the Sagadahoc County Board of Health.