Small ways to get prepared every day in September 

September is National Preparedness Month, the perfect time to get prepared for disasters. From earthquakes to wildfires and more, Southern California is prone to no-notice events, and the time to get prepared is now. Being prepared can reduce your family’s anxiety over what to do during emergencies and can increase your resiliency following a disaster.

Even though getting prepared can seem overwhelming, it is relatively easy to do once you break it down into smaller, more manageable activities. If you tackle one task each day throughout the month, you'll be prepared before you know it.

September 1 – We are starting you off with a big one – your emergency kit! You may have many of the items already in your home but collecting them in an easy-to-grab backpack or bag is a more efficient way to find items when they may be needed. Download an emergency kit checklist from redcross.org/prepare and make a list of the items you need pick up on your next errand run. Or buy a disaster kit at usfirstaidandprep.com, an official provider of Red Cross approved products. If you already have a kit, make sure no items are expired, missing or in short supply.

September 2 – Make your communication plan. Know how local authorities will contact you in case of a disaster, whether that is through local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio stations. You can buy emergency radios at usfirstaidandprep.com. Our usual technology access can be interrupted in a disaster – email or text messages may be more reliable than calling cell phones and it may be easier to reach someone out of the area. Pick a friend or family member outside of the area who each family member can call to check in and let them know you’re safe. Visit redcross.org/prepare for more tips on how to create your communication plan.

September 3 – Know your risks. Do some research on what disasters occur most commonly in your area. Learn what to do before, during and after each type of disaster and share the information with everyone in your home. Those who live near canyons will want to be prepared for wildfires, coastal residents may want to learn about tsunamis and those who live near rivers should read up on floods. Everyone in our region should know what to do during an earthquake, wildfire, home fire and more. To learn how to prepare for different emergencies, visit redcross.org/prepare.

September 4 – Sign up to receive emergency notifications on your cell phone. Most counties use regional notification systems that send telephone notifications to residents and businesses in areas impacted by, or in danger of being impacted by, an emergency or disaster. Landlines are automatically registered through the 9-1-1 database, but you must opt-in to receive notifications on your cell phone. Visit your county’s official website for emergency management information and to register for your local reverse 9-1-1 system.

September 5 – Clear your property of wildfire risks. This means clearing the area of dead or dry vegetation and combustible items and creating defensible space around your home. Remove dead and dry plants that could fuel a fire, as well as fallen leaves and other dry plant material. Be sure to cut your grass regularly or start the switch to drought-friendly or fire-resistant landscaping. Click here for more resources to help you create defensible space around your home.

September 6 – Download our wildfire safety checklist and review with members of your household. Our handy wildfire safety checklist includes tips on what to do before, during and after wildfires. Click here to download in English and click here to download in Spanish. Checklists are also available in Arabic, Burmese, French, Hakha Chin, Polish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Visit redcross.org/wildfire to view the checklists in multiple languages.

September 7 – Learn about disaster preparedness for people with special needs or disabilities. When an emergency occurs, mobility challenges and hearing, learning, or seeing disabilities can add complication. The Red Cross offers practical advice on getting informed, making a plan, assembling a kit, and keeping your plans up to date.  People with and without disabilities, as well as those in their support networks, may benefit from our tips about managing communications, equipment, service animals, pets and home hazards. Click here to learn more.

September 8 – Become CPR certified and know how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Register for a class by visiting redcross.org/takeaclass. Some classes are blended with online and in-person class time to reduce the amount of time away from home. Get started now – register for an upcoming class and do your online portion of the class today! Click here to learn how to perform hands-only CPR.

September 9 – Put flashlights and batteries in several places around your home. If the power goes out after an earthquake or any other disaster, you’ll be able to grab a handy flashlight to safely make your way through your home. 

September 10 – Fill your gas tank…and don’t let it get too low. You never know when a disaster will strike and if it may inhibit your ability to refill your gas tank – long lines, lack of fuel or structural damage could all be obstacles. Don’t get stranded away from your family or have trouble evacuating because you don’t have enough gas to get you where you need to be.

September 11 – Put preparedness in the palm of your hand. Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for access to localizable severe weather alerts, preparedness checklists, a shelter locator and more. Available in English and Spanish, the app also provides step-by-step tips on what to do next if a disaster is occurring in your area. You can find the Emergency App by searching for “Red Cross” in your phone's app store, by visiting redcross.org/apps or by texting "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999. If you have kids, download the Red Cross Monster Guard App to help children prepare for real-life emergencies inside and outside of the home, while also keeping them entertained.

September 12 – Create an emergency escape plan with your family so everyone knows where to go during and after an emergency like a home fire or an earthquake. Download family disaster plan templates from redcross.org/prepare. Make sure that each family member knows two ways out of each room (usually through a door and an accessible window) and practice evacuating with you children, pets and your emergency kit. Figure out where you can safely reconvene (i.e. a neighbor’s driveway or other landmark). Escape plans should be able to be executed in two minutes or less, so take 10-15 minutes to walk through your home with your family and talk about the plan – then take two minutes to practice!

September 13 – Prepare your pets.  In an emergency, your pets will be even more dependent on you for their safety and well-being. Your family’s disaster plans should include your furry family members too. Learn what to do to keep your beloved pets safe! Find more information at redcross.org/pets.

September 14 – Create mini-disaster kits for your car and workplace. Stock each kit with a flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit and cell phone charger (with car adapter for your car kit) or external battery pack. Have some bottled water handy and keep some non-perishable food within reach. For your car, make sure you have maps, a tire repair kit, jumper cables, flares, a white distress flag, and a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Visit redcross.org/prepare or check out the Red Cross highway safety resources page for more information.

September 15 – Check for earthquake safety within your home. Have a professional make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation and provide recommendations for strengthening exterior features, like porches, decks, sliding glass doors, canopies, carports and garage doors. Anchor items in your home, such as lighting fixtures, to make sure that nothing breaks during an earthquake. Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs. Do not hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, near beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit. Anchor top-heavy, tall and freestanding furniture such as bookcases and china cabinets to wall studs to keep these from toppling over. Visit redcross.org/earthquake to learn more about what you can do to prepare yourself and your home before an earthquake.

September 16 – Commit to fire safety habits in your home. Practicing fire safety habits make a home fire less likely so be sure to never leave candles unattended, always stay near the stove/oven when cooking and make sure that appliances are plugged directly into wall outlets. Fix or replace frayed extension cords, exposed wires, or loose plugs. Visit redcross.org/homefire for additional fire safety tips. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal to learn more or to request a free smoke alarm installation from the Red Cross.

September 17 – Walk through your house and push the TEST button on each of your smoke alarms. Make sure there is a working smoke alarm in each bedroom and in any living areas or hallways, away from kitchens and bathrooms that can set it off by steam from showers or cooking. Replace old or dead batteries – or better yet, purchase new smoke alarms that have built-in batteries that last for 10 years. If there are kids in your home, involve them in testing the smoke alarms, teach them what a smoke alarm sounds like and what they should do if they hear it. Click here for more information about fire safety for kids. The Red Cross also offers free smoke alarm installations through our Sound the Alarm program. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal to learn more or to request a free smoke alarm installation from the Red Cross.

September 18 – Talk to your children about disasters. Disasters often strike quickly and without warning. They are frightening for adults and can be traumatic for children. Your family may have to leave home and change your daily routine. Be prepared to give your children guidance that will help reduce their fears. Click here for resources and tips for talking with children about disasters.

September 19 – Practice what to do during an earthquake – DROP, COVER and HOLD ON! Practice looking for places to seek cover under during an earthquake when you are at any location, including work or at your child’s school. Doorways are not the most reliable so make sure that you take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture or another reliable area. Move as little as possible and try to protect your head and torso. If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on, and cover your head. If you're in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines, if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Mark your calendar to take part in next month’s 2023 Great ShakeOut on Thursday, October 19.

September 20 – Purchase a fire extinguisher for your home and know how to use it. An extinguisher rated “A-B-C” is recommended for home use. Many fire extinguisher models are designed for one-time use and cannot be recharged. Get training from the fire department or a fire extinguisher manufacturer. Fire extinguishers from various manufacturers operate in different ways and there is no time to read directions during an emergency. Only adults should handle and use extinguishers. Click here for more fire safety equipment.

September 21 – Meet your neighbors! Connect with people in your immediate neighborhood and community to discuss what everyone can and should do in case of an emergency. Find out if any of your neighbors may need assistance evacuating in the case of an emergency, especially if they have mobility challenges or do not have their own transportation.

September 22 – Find a safe place to keep insurance policies, documents and other valuables so they will not get damaged. Consider purchasing a fireproof and waterproof safe to keep these documents protected in your home. While you’re at it, create a “Digital Disaster Kit” – scan all your important documents onto a USB drive that you can tuck into your emergency kit. You may need quick, easy access to these documents in the event of an emergency.

September 23 – Volunteer with the American Red Cross. As you prepare for disasters, the Red Cross is preparing too. We encourage people to join us by volunteering in their local community. A variety of positions are available, including many volunteer positions that help the Red Cross respond to wildfires and other local disasters. Learn more about urgently needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteer. You’ll learn even more about how to be prepared yourself as you’re helping others prepare, respond or recover.

September 24 – Help prepare older adults. Some people, including older adults and those with mobility challenges, may need extra attention during an emergency - planning ahead is crucial. Being prepared and ready before and during an emergency will greatly impact one’s ability to help and be helped during an emergency or disaster. Click here for a preparedness checklist for older adults. Click here for a preparedness booklet for older adults.

September 25 – Make your evacuation plan. Do you know two ways out of your neighborhood? What would you do in the event of a road closure? Do you know where you will go if you must evacuate? It could be a to a friend or family member’s house, but also make sure you know how to find an open shelter. You can locate open Red Cross shelters using the free Red Cross Emergency App or by visiting redcross.org/shelter and by looking for official announcements on the news and social media. While service animals are welcome, pets are typically not allowed inside of Red Cross shelters; however, during disasters, we do work with partners to co-locate pet shelters on the same premises as our “people shelters.” We often work with local animal services organizations to make sure evacuees have resources to ensure their pets are cared for. Make sure to evacuate with your pets and make plans for any livestock as well. 

September 26 – Prepare your workplace. Is your workplace prepared for an emergency? The free American Red Cross Ready Rating™ program is a first-of-its-kind membership program designed to help businesses, organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies. Click here to learn more.

September 27 – If you’ve made it this far, you’re close to prepared by now, so it is time to share your knowledge. Talk to at least one other person today and tell them how they can get prepared. Guide them on what steps to take and what resources they can use to be safe. Join the conversation online using #NatlPrep.

September 28 – Help your community be prepared by donating blood. Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – and in the event of a disaster or emergency, it is the blood currently on the shelves that helps save lives immediately. Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. If you are feeling healthy and well, visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and weeks.

September 29 – Make social media work for you. Social media is a quick source for information in the event of a disaster. Follow reputable accounts like local news stations, law enforcement and fire departments (including Cal Fire) and official government channels for your area. Be sure to follow the Red Cross Southern California Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

September 30 – End National Preparedness Month by testing your knowledge and taking inventory of what you’ve learned during our 30 Days of Preparedness! Test yourself! Can you agree with these statements?: 1) I know what emergencies or disasters are most likely to occur in my community. 2) I have a family disaster plan and have practiced it. 3) I have an emergency kit. 4)  At least one member of my household is trained in first aid and CPR/AED. 5) I have taken action to help my community prepare.

How did you do? Were you able to celebrate National Preparedness Month with us and keep up each day? Share your story with us on social media using #BeReady and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.