National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — and the best way to protect your family, neighbors, and community is to be ready before disaster strikes. At CRESA, we work 24/7/365 to help Clark County prepare for and respond to emergencies. But preparedness doesn’t start with us alone. It begins at home, in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools.

Why Preparedness Matters

In Clark County, we’re fortunate to enjoy a high quality of life surrounded by rivers, mountains, and forests. But with our geography comes risk. From winter storms and power outages to wildfires, floods, and even earthquakes, our community faces a wide range of hazards. Emergencies rarely come with advance warning, which means the decisions you make today can have a lasting impact on how your family weathers tomorrow’s crisis.

Preparedness isn’t about living in fear — it’s about being ready. Having a plan and the right supplies gives you confidence, peace of mind, and the ability to focus on what matters most: keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.

The Role of Emergency Management

When disaster strikes, emergency management agencies like CRESA coordinate the response. But our work doesn’t start when the sirens go off — it begins long before.

At CRESA, our team is constantly preparing behind the scenes, so Clark County is ready for the unexpected. That includes:

• Developing contingency plans to anticipate different types of emergencies and how we’ll respond.
• Working with first responders, community partners, to ensure a team can form quickly and respond in a coordinated way when disaster hits.
• Supporting continuity planning to help local government, schools, and businesses keep critical operations running during a crisis.
• Running full-scale exercises that test our systems and ensure we can respond quickly and effectively in real-world scenarios.
• Delivering public education and outreach, helping families, schools, and businesses understand what they can do to prepare.
• Building a strong volunteer network that can support our mission and expand our capacity during large incidents.

These efforts are happening every day — often quietly, without fanfare — so that when a real emergency does occur, our community is safer, stronger, and more resilient.

Working Together Across the Region

Preparedness doesn’t stop at county lines. Emergencies often cross borders, which is why we at CRESA work closely with our neighbors in Skamania, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties. When one community needs help, others step in to support. This regional approach ensures resources can be shared and coordinated, especially during large disasters.

But partnerships only go so far without community involvement. Each of us plays a role. Businesses can create continuity plans to stay open during disruptions. Schools can practice drills so children know what to do. Families can check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with disabilities, to make sure no one is left behind.

What Preparedness Looks Like

During a large-scale emergency, help may not reach you immediately. Firefighters, law enforcement, and medical teams will be stretched thin. That’s why personal and family preparedness is the foundation of community resilience. The more prepared you are, the more our professional responders can focus on those in greatest need.

Preparedness doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it in three parts:

1. Make a plan

• Talk with your family about how you’ll communicate if cell phones are down.
• Identify a safe meeting place near your home and another outside your neighborhood.
• Know how you’ll evacuate if needed — and what routes you’ll take.

2. Build a kit

• Start with basics: food, water, flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, and essential medications.
• Add comfort items for children or pets.
• Don’t forget important documents stored in a waterproof container or saved securely online.

3. Stay informed

• Sign up for PublicAlerts.org to receive emergency notifications for Clark County and the surrounding region.
• Follow CRESA on social media for updates and safety information.
• Learn what hazards are most likely in your neighborhood and how to respond.

Be Prepared

Preparedness is powerful because it’s something you can do today. You don’t need to tackle everything at once — start small. Add a few items to your emergency kit. Talk with your kids about who to call in an emergency. Sign up for PublicAlerts.org.

Every step you take makes Clark County stronger, safer, and more resilient.

At CRESA, we believe preparedness is not just a personal responsibility but a community effort. This National Preparedness Month, we invite you to join us in building a culture of readiness. Together, we can ensure that when the unexpected happens, we are ready — as families, as neighbors, and as a community.