Local leaders want to engage public in National Preparedness Month

The Pikes Peak American Red Cross and El Paso County Commissioners want Southern Colorado to be prepared for disasters now, during National Preparedness Month.

The nationwide push for readiness is the time for people to prepare for all kinds of emergency situations – from fires, to floods, to terror threats, to power outages. Even smaller-scale situations call for readiness.

“It could be something as simple as you’re driving and get snowed in in your car,” Pikes Peak American Red Cross public affairs lead Bill Fortune said.

In August, El Paso County commissioners passed a proclamation to recognize National Preparedness Month.

“We need to have a plan in place, be prepared, and know where we can get information now to be ready for (emergencies,)” Commissioner Peggy Littleton said.

Littleton suggests having a 72-hour kit ready, signing up for the reverse 911 system, making an inventory of everything in your home, and having several copies in different places of important documents and photos.

You can find more emergency preparedness resources here or attend one of the Red Cross preparedness workshops.