Crater Health District Says Prepare Today to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Disaster
September 22, 2026
Media Contact: RaShel Charles rashel.charles@vdh.virginia.gov
Prepare Today to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Disaster
Crater Health District Supports National Preparedness Month
PETERSBURG, Va. – Plan ahead to be ready before a disaster happens. September is National Preparedness Month, a time to focus on getting prepared for an emergency. The Crater Health District encourages everyone to make a plan, assemble an emergency kit or “go bag,” and use simple, low-cost ideas to become better prepared.
Starting the conversation with your family and friends about emergency preparedness is an essential first step. While discussing disasters may feel difficult, planning strengthens your ability to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Consider these tips to help you begin:”
- Choose a time when everyone feels comfortable talking about emergency plans.
• Have more than one conversation if needed so everyone feels confident in the plan.
• Share what you have done to prepare and ask others what works for them.
“Preparedness is a key part of protecting the health and safety of our communities. Emergencies can happen at any time, and taking simple steps now—like creating a plan, assembling an emergency kit, and staying informed—helps families stay safe and strengthens our community’s ability to respond and recover” said Crater District Health Director, Dr. Alton Hart, Jr.
“National Preparedness Month is a great reminder that as the number of disasters continue to grow each year, it is imperative that we take active steps to ensure ourselves and our families are prepared for when they occur,” said Steven Herring, Local Health Emergency Coordinator. Crater Health Department encourages residents to begin with a simple emergency preparedness checklist:
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- Make an emergency plan for your household.
• Choose evacuation meeting locations (one near home, one outside your neighborhood).
• How you will communicate if phone service is unavailable.
• Know evacuation routes for home, work, and school.
• Plan for all members of your home, including pets, children and those with access and functional needs.
• Build an emergency kit or “go bag.”
• Include water, non‑perishable food, first aid supplies, medications, and important documents.
• Add flashlights, batteries, chargers, hygiene items, maps, and a whistle.
• Keep extra clothing, sturdy shoes, and a blanket in your kit.
• Sign up for local emergency alerts.
• Identify reliable sources for emergency news and updates.
• Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Learn how to turn off gas, water, and electricity safely.
• Keep a small amount of cash available.
• Review and update insurance coverage.
• Store copies of important documents in a waterproof, fire‑resistant container.
• Talk with neighbors and identify those who may need support during disasters.
• Stay involved with community preparedness efforts.
Disasters are occurring more frequently and with greater impacts, so talking about them now helps keep your community safe. For more information on preparing for different types of emergencies, visit www.ready.gov.
For more information about Emergency Preparedness, contact your Crater Health Department at 804-863-1652 or visit Crater Health District.
# # #
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
