September is Preparedness Month Published Aug. 31, 2012 State of Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management MADISON, Wis. -- For many, Labor Day weekend is when families gather together for one last summer celebration. As you're firing up the grill and feasting on brats and burgers, ReadyWisconsin urges everyone to take just a few minutes to talk about preparing for emergencies. September is National Preparedness Month. Think about this... what if you knew that today was the day before a disaster? What would you do? How would you get ready? Preparing for emergency events like tornadoes, flooding and winter storms requires individuals and families to be self-reliant and ready to face days without utilities such as electricity, water and phone service, access to local businesses such as gas stations and supermarkets, and other needed services Preparing can start with three important steps: - Get an emergency supply kit - Make a plan for what to do in an emergency - Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency. The ReadyWisconsin website has more information on how to make an emergency supply kit on a budget, tips for creating your own emergency plan and commonly asked questions and answers about preparedness. Just go to: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov ReadyWisconsin is a preparedness program from Wisconsin Emergency Management.