September is National Preparedness Month, a time to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies. This year, the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services is encouraging residents to Prepare Where You Live by understanding the risks that may impact different communities.
For those who call San Bernardino County’s mountain communities home, preparedness means being ready for conditions that can change quickly. Wildfires, winter storms, landslides, power outages and road closures can disrupt daily life, limit travel or require residents to evacuate with little notice.
A few ways to prepare for mountain emergencies:
- Know multiple evacuation routes. Your usual route may be unavailable because of fire, snow, flooding or road closures. Talk with your household about where you’ll meet up.
- Keep your vehicle ready. Maintain at least a half tank of gas and keep water, food, blankets, a flashlight and other emergency supplies in your car.
- Prepare to be self-sufficient. Keep enough food, water, medications and other essentials on hand for several days.
- Have a go-bag ready. Keep medications, important documents and other essentials organized in case you need to leave quickly.
- Plan for your whole household. Consider the needs of children, older adults, pets and anyone who may need additional assistance.
- Stay informed. Check weather and road conditions and have multiple ways to receive emergency information.
Download the Ready SB County app and sign up for TENS, San Bernardino County’s emergency notification system, to receive important information before and during an emergency.
Preparing now can make a big difference when conditions change.
Ready Together. Prepare Where You Live.
Visit bit.ly/readytogethersb to learn more about National Preparedness Month.
Follow along throughout September:
- Facebook – Ready San Bernardino County
- LinkedIn – Ready San Bernardino County
- Instagram – ReadySBCounty
- YouTube – ReadySBCounty
- X – ReadySBCounty
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