During National Preparedness Month in September and throughout the year, EEI and our member companies remind you to be prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies. With hurricane and wildfire season in full swing, now is the perfect time to assess your emergency plans and to make sure your emergency outage kit is stocked and readily available. 

Ready is a national public service campaign designed to educate and empower all Americans to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies. Ready’s theme for National Preparedness Month this year is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3.” Ready has suggested actions to take each week of September to help prepare you and your family for natural disasters and emergencies. Learn more on the Ready website. 

Here are simple ways you can prepare for natural disasters and the power outages they may cause: 

• Stock your emergency outage kit. Be sure to include masks or face coverings. 
• Keep your cell phones and other electronic devices charged and available. Make sure you have extra batteries for flashlights and other devices. 
• Have a hard copy of emergency contact information available. 
• Register your cell phone number with your local electric company, and make sure your contact information is current so you can receive any status or safety updates the company might put out during an emergency. 
• Be sure to follow your electric company on social media for real-time updates. 
• Read EEI’s flash flood, hurricane, tornado, and wildfire safety tips and learn how to prepare for power outages. 
• Visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International website for more information on how to stay safe during and after disasters.