Emergency Preparedness Month: What to do when disaster strikes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- September is Emergency Preparedness Month, and this year's theme may be appropriate to some this year: "disasters don't wait!"

Experts with Pikes Peak Regional Emergency Management are urging people to get prepared and create a family emergency communication plan.

Planning starts with three simple steps:

1. Collect: Create a paper copy of all important contacts & write a plan
2. Share: Make sure everyone in your family has a copy of the contacts & plan
3. Practice: Have a regular household meeting and run through the plan

More information on creating a plan can be found here.

With fires still raging across Colorado and the West Coast, it's also important to have an evacuation kit ready to go at a moment's notice.

This "go-bag" should be transportable by foot, personal car, or by public transportation.

1. People (bring everything you'll need for 72 hours) 
2. Pets (food, water, kennel, toys etc)
3. Papers (like the deed to your home, insurance papers, birth certificates, telephone numbers etc) 
4. Prescriptions 
5. Photos that can't be replaced.

Pikes Peak Regional Emergency Management is also encouraging people to have life-saving supplies on-hand in the event they ever have to shelter in-place; which is a major possibility given the harsh winters we've seen in Colorado.

Shelter-in-place kits should include enough food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. 

• Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery