We're here to help you prepare in a year

We want you to be prepared. There are still people struggling today to find hand sanitizer and we all remember when toilet paper was a rare find. Yet both of these items have been standard on our recommended emergency kit list for years.

That’s why we are launching our Prepare in a Year guide, geared to help you take one step a month for the next 12 months to get you prepared. We know things are tough and money is tight. So, it makes sense that the first step in our plan is FREE. Get together and start talking to your family. Create an actual communications plan on what would happen if you were separated. During this pandemic, we have been six feet apart, but still together. During an earthquake, your entire family might be separated by school, work or on the road. By crafting solutions now, you can ensure calm and understanding later. Everyone will know what to do.

We’re also partnering with local jurisdictions in a two-part webinar series titled Re-Prepare. We hunkered down for weeks. We rushed to the grocery store (or hopefully had our emergency kits ready). Now, it’s time to re-prepare for the on-going disaster as well as future disasters waiting to happen.

Join us to learn about how you and your family can prepare from home:

11:30 a.m., Sept. 3 https://bit.ly/re-prepare1 or get a reminder on Facebook Events.

11:30 a.m., Sept. 17 https://bit.ly/re-prepare2 or get a reminder on Facebook Events.

The purpose of these webinars is to encourage everyone to re-evaluate their preparedness, review their family plan and re-stock their disaster kits. Topics will also include mental and emotional resiliency, identifying home hazards and how to talk to others about disaster preparedness. If you need ideas to occupy kids at home, join us to learn how to do a home hazard hunt! Kids can also be very helpful in thinking creatively about how to build disaster kits with supplies you already have at home.

Did you know that you can likely build an entire disaster kit with supplies you already have in your home? Join this webinar about being creative with preparedness. This down-to-earth discussion is about how anyone can be prepared for disasters – including those on a budget, with limited storage space, and other potential barriers.

There is no registration. Simply click the appropriate link. These webinars are FREE and everyone is welcome to join. Our webinars use Microsoft teams. If you don't have Teams, that's OK! When the browser launches, just click "Watch on the web, instead." You can watch and ask questions anonymously. No need to sign in unless you want to and have an account.

Can’t attend? information, resources, and the webinar slides are available at mil.wa.gov/preparedness. The webinar will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to be notified when it’s available.

Plus, our Prepare in a Year kit is there waiting for your participation with versions available in English, Spanish, Chinese and other languages.

We’ll also be posting preparedness tips on Facebook and Twitter throughout September to hopefully inspire you. Join us by using #PrepareInaYear