September brings the end of summer and a return to the schedules and routines of our lives as we focus on the issues that affect us as individuals, families and communities. All around Erie County people are getting back to work and school after the summer hiatus, reacquainting themselves with their everyday endeavors, toils and studies.

September is also National Preparedness Month, dedicated to helping individuals and families plan and prepare for emergencies of any sort. If this hasn’t been on your “back to school” list, this month is a good opportunity to review your preparedness status and improve it wherever possible. We are working to make preparedness easier for you and your family by having necessary information just a click away.

Throughout the month Erie County will be using our social media outlets to share preparedness information on a daily basis, including information to prepare yourself, your family, and your friends for whatever emergency might arise. How will you be in contact with them in an emergency? How will you (and they) get to a safe location? How can I let my loved ones know I am safe, and how can we get to a meeting place afterward? How can I get emergency alerts? You’ll learn how to answer these questions and more during Preparedness Month and will have the information when you need it most.

If you haven’t thought about these things, September is your month to develop a plan. When an emergency or disaster hits it is too late to create your plan. Now is the time to do so, and you can build a family emergency plan at www.ready.gov/make-a-plan by typing on that link and using the helpful tools contained there. Additionally, this month I will be joining personnel from Erie County Emergency Services to unveil our “Ready Erie” app for mobile phones, which will be a central place for Erie County residents to get information when an emergency or disaster strikes. Prior to and during an emergency, Ready Erie will provide alerts, information and notifications to your email, mobile phone or wireless device to keep you up-to-date on what you need to know to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. The app will help you to plan and prepare for whatever winter storm may be coming our way, or develop a family preparedness plan for another type of emergency. The app can be used by anyone with a mobile phone or device.