The month of September is appropriately National Emergency Preparedness month. Federal, state and local officials, including those in Douglas and Arapahoe counties, take part in an initiative to encourage homeowners, businesses and communities to maintain year-round readiness in the event of an emergency.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, there are three key actions each household and business can take: 1. Prepare an emergency supply kit — a basic emergency supply kit will create three days of self-reliance for each family member, as well as pets; 2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency; and 3. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency.

Recommendations on how to create an evacuation plan and gather the necessary supplies are easy to find. READYcolorado (www.readycolorado.com) provides a wealth of information, including how to get involved in preparedness classes, and even has tips for pet owners on how to prepare their furry friend for a disaster.

The Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership (www.thecepp.org) is a collaborative enterprise created by the Denver Police Foundation, Business Executives for National Security and the Philanthropy Roundtable. It is a broad coalition to implement a voluntary, all-hazards partnership between business and government.

The North Central All-Hazards Emergency Management Region, (www.ncrcolorado.org), which encompasses Douglas and Arapahoe counties, has an entire section on its website devoted to citizen preparedness. It also provides links to federal emergency preparedness sites like Citizen Corps, (www.citizencorps.gov) whose motto is “Uniting Communities, Preparing the Nation.”