City urges residents to participate in Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, as recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service, and Carson City safety officials are urging residents to participate.

“Residents and visitors should consider themselves the first responders. Every person should have a plan and exercise the plan,” the city said in a news release. “Know your evacuation routes, meet-up locations, or temporary evacuation points and who you may need to check in on and support. Take pictures of medications and have paper documentation in case there your devices do not have power.

“The more prepared you are with a ‘go-bag’ that contains your medications, chargers, batteries, and other personal items, the better your response will be.”

Carson City is susceptible to earthquakes, wildfires and floods, with fires and floods being common natural threats, the release said.

“We also have threats of human-caused disasters (terrorism and cyber) and technological disasters (mechanical failures). Understanding these threats and the hazards they present to us will help you be prepared,” officials said.

The Carson City Fire Department emergency management division is promoting Preparedness Month with interviews, social media campaigns, news releases, local workshops and with a proclamation for Preparedness Month presented by Mayor Lori Bagwell at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 5.

Visit www.Ready.gov for general information and help with plans and go-bags. Also visit www.Carson.org/alerts for up-to-date links to websites about weather, air quality, current fires and current earthquake mapping.