National Preparedness Month tips with the Muskingum County EMA

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – September is National Preparedness Month and Muskingum County EMA Director Jeff Jadwin offers advice on how to be ready for the worst.

Week 2 of National Preparedness Month is focused on planning for your family. One of the best things to include in your plan is to have an emergency supply kit. According to Jadwin, the floods in August illustrated the need for these kinds of kits.

“This recent flood that we had in the area, you know, hit several times within a few days, was a good example of why you have to have stuff prepared,” Jadwin said. “Because the water for these floods come up so fast, people didn’t have time to grab a lot of things. So, you need to be, you know, prepare. Whether you put it in a container, suitcase, whatever it is that you do with your supplies.”

Your emergency supply kit should include your prescription medication, water, non-perishable food items, a phone charger, and sleeping bags. Jadwin says that in an emergency, an overlooked item is often physical cash.

“…could be a tornado, could be a winter storm, you need to always be prepared. One of my pet peeves is have cash some place that you can grab and readily have to go with you,” Jadwin said. “Because when we set the power off, none of the computers work. So none of the gas stations, none of the grocery stores, that everything’s electronic, can no longer take your credit cards.”

You can go Ready.gov to find an emergency supply kit checklist and more information on how to be prepared for when disaster strikes.