Sept. 8, 2010: September is National Preparedness Month, and the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center reminds residents and property owners during this month’s national awareness campaign – and at the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season – of how important it is to always be prepared.

Disasters can come in many forms at any time. It’s only natural to hope for the best ahead of a crisis. But it’s best to be prepared for the worst.

“My greatest concern, as an emergency manager, is whether the public knows what to do in an emergency, because you never know when the unexpected is going to occur,” Sussex County EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas said. “It is critical that our residents and visitors know what to do and where to seek help, not just in an emergency, but long before the crisis. That’s called preparation, and it can make the difference in saving lives.”

The public can take a few easy steps to become prepared, including putting together emergency survival kits and developing family emergency plans, Mr. Thomas said.

A survival kit should include, among other items, non-perishable foods, water, eating/cooking utensils, medication, a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries and cash. Meantime, an emergency plan should include contact information for all members of the family, as well as an out-of-town contact, and information about where members would go in the event of a disaster.

To learn more about how your family can prepare before disaster strikes, visit the Sussex County EOC Web site at sussexcountyde.gov/hurricane-information, or visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Month awareness Web site at www.ready.gov.

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