First and foremost, you must recognize the potential threats that may come your way. With Houston County's geographical location, weather preparedness is a great place to start. First, sit down and establish an Emergency Response Plan. It should be simple and easy to follow, and it can be amended later to better fit different scenarios.

"Being prepared for any emergency is not a difficult task, as long as you approach it in small steps."
- LaMonte Mears, NREMT-P, Houston Healthcare Emergency Medical Services

As part of your Emergency Response Plan, it's very important to build an Emergency Response Kit. The kit can be as simple as a first aid kit that you can get at almost any store or more complex such as a well-stocked bin of supplies. The Emergency Response Kit should always be at hand and easily accessed in a moment's notice. It is also important to keep your supplies in the kit fresh and up-to-date.

After developing your Emergency Response Plan and stocking your Emergency Response Kit comes the most important task of all—testing and drilling your plan! Make it a family event so everyone knows the who, what, when, where and how of your Emergency Response Plan. This should be done often so that, during an emergency, it will be second nature to everyone involved.

So, in review:

• Recognize your threat.
• Establish an Emergency Response Plan.
• Build an Emergency Response Kit.
• Practice! Practice! Practice!

Remember, the best made plans are not any good if they are not practiced to make sure all involved know their part, as well as to determine any shortcomings in your Emergency Response Plan.

Emergency preparedness starts with you!