By: Najla Alexander
Summit officials announced that during National Preparedness Month in September, the City of Summit is encouraging residents and businesses to make disaster preparation a priority.
Making a plan to prepare for disasters is the best way to protect your family, Summit officials say.
According to Summit officials, residents can download the City of Summit’s new safety guide, a printable flyer with public safety tips and emergency preparedness information.
“I urge all residents to dedicate some time this month to getting prepared,” says Summit Mayor Elizabeth Fagan.
“Create a family plan, build an emergency kit, and have a conversation together about being prepared. These small steps can make a big difference when disaster strikes.”
The theme for 2025 is “Preparedness Starts at Home,” which focuses on getting back to the basics of emergency planning.
Summit officials say individuals can take these four key actions to prepare for any disaster:
• Know your risk: Know what kinds of disasters could happen where you live. This helps you figure out how to create a plan to stay safe. Explore various disasters and emergencies on ready.gov.
• Make a family emergency plan: Make a plan now to reduce stress and save time and money when a disaster or emergency occurs. Be sure to consider the needs of every member of the family (including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pets) when creating your plan. Follow these four easy steps and create a free Family Emergency Plan on ready.gov.
• Build an emergency kit: In an emergency, having enough food, water, and emergency supplies can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Build a go-bag now with all the essentials you may need, so you don’t need to scramble in an emergency. Your kit should include enough food, water, medicine, and other supplies to last for several days. Find a full list of supplies at Build a Kit on ready.gov.
• Get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies: Emergencies can happen quickly, and emergency responders may not always be nearby. You may be able to save a life by taking simple actions immediately. Consider taking a first aid class with a local community organization or a free online course through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute to learn basic disaster response skills.
“I strongly encourage all residents to sign up for Nixle and Smart911 to receive emergency alerts from the City of Summit,” says Mayor Fagan.
“During a disaster or emergency, we will use these notification systems to provide timely and reliable information to help keep you safe.”
Additional emergency preparedness information is available on the City of Summit website at cityofsummit.org/emergencymanagement and on FEMA’s website at ready.gov.