September is National Preparedness Month, and Washoe County Emergency Management is reminding residents to prepare for emergencies by creating escape plans, go-bags, and making arrangements for pet care.
“Emergencies and natural disasters can happen at any time, so look at your family and think about how they would react if you had to leave suddenly,” Emergency Manager Kelly Echeverria said. “You can save precious time in an evacuation by planning ahead and knowing what to do and where to go in an emergency.”
Some ways to prepare include packing a go-bag that contains your important papers, prescriptions, emergency contact information, and names and phone numbers of medical providers. Pack food for pets, and specialty supplies if necessary.
Washoe County Emergency Management is noting the special month with several training exercises that include simulated emergencies and natural disasters.
As large-scale emergencies affect more than just a single city or county, Washoe County, City of Reno, and City of Sparks are collectively launching a new website, www.EmergencyWashoe.com, that will serve as a single source of information in the case of a regional disaster, such as flooding, wildfire, or an earthquake. The site will be a resource for information on evacuations and recovery resources in the case of a region-wide emergency.
Learn more about Emergency Management, and download a family emergency plan here.
