September is National Emergency Preparedness month. 

After September 11th, 2001, because it was recognized that our citizens needed to be better prepared in case of a disaster, natural or otherwise, the Office of Emergency Preparedness was established.  Not only did police officers and firefighters respond on 9/11, but so did ordinary citizens, turning into heroes as they helped others who needed it.  On that day, many lives were turned upside down as we realized that we were woefully underprepared for anything close to the magnitude of the event.   Even today, no one could completely prepare for something that horrific.  However, simple things like having extra food and water at home, work, and in the car, could make a big difference.  Having a plan of how to get in touch with family members in case of emergency, or how to evacuate and where to meet afterwards can save lots of heartache and worry. 

Ordinary citizens help others every day, during snowstorms and hurricanes, floods and fires.  If we educate ourselves on what we can do to be better prepared, we can help ourselves and our families stay safe, then be in a position to help others who might need it. 

A new website called ReadyColorado has many ideas listed for all types of emergencies.  I have chosen a couple of specific items that seem to be  more applicable to Summit County, but you never know when a bridge could collapse, a car accident occur, or a ski injury happen. My friend  and Active Rainer, Jennifer Steck, who has been instrumental in developing this campaign, has more information about it on her Central Denver blog

What should we concentrate on here in Summit County?  First, have an emergency kit in the car at all times, especially in the winter.  I have seen I-70 shut down numerous times because of weather and traffic accidents.  If you don't have a snow shovel,  a full tank of gas, flashlight, warm clothes, jumper cables, food, water and cell phone charger, you are underprepared.  If the highway closes, you could be stuck on it for hours.  I remember driving to Denver right after I-70 reopened when it had been closed for several days because of avalanches.  I was amazed at how many snowmen were built in the medians and along the edges of the road.  People were stuck for so long that they built snowmen for something to do!  Many skiers have warm clothes and food in the car, but do locals who are headed down to Denver to shop?  What would you do if it was you stuck on the road?   

Second, the trees killed by pine beetle have brought our fire danger to the front of mind, and the County and Forest Service are busy planning for evacuations and fighting large forest fires.  My sister lives in Oak Creek Canyon, in Sedona, Arizona.  She lives in a very dry, yet very wooded area, and has been evacuated several times for fires.  The last time she had 20 minutes warning and was away from home for 10 days.  But for the firefighters camped in her front yard, she would have lost her home.  She has an excellent list of things that she felt were priorities to take with her in the short amount of time she had to get ready to evacuate.  Over the course of the month, I will post more in depth articles to help us be prepared  for our particular emergencies. 

Denver and the State of Colorado launched a readiness campaign as part of the Ready Colorado program using a 100 cut out figures named B Ready.  I have one of these 100 figures which I will start on his tour of Summit County.  I hope to give it to the fire department because fire mitigation is a high priority for the county, and it should help to bring attention to it.  The B Ready blog will be used to keep track of the 100 figures as they move around the State.  Senator Allard and Mayor Hickenlooper have started their B Ready guys on their trips and we are lucky to have one of the "guys" in Summit County.  Perhaps you will have the opportunity to help prepare yourself and your community by passing B Ready #73 along, but even if you never see him, take the opportunity to read http://www.readycolorado.com/ and http://www.ready.gov/ to see what you can do. 

B. Ready, Pass it on.