Columbus, Ohio- (AVC News) – September has been designated as Ohio Preparedness Month by the State of Ohio and coordinated by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA).
Ohio Preparedness Month (OPM) is a month long campaign aimed at enhancing public awareness and providing education for effectively preparing for emergencies, disasters, or unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
Ohio’s 2026 Preparedness Month theme is “Prepare Your Family,” broken down into weekly topcics, which aims to encourage Ohioans to take steps now to help their family and households be prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Week 1: Preparedness Kits for the Family
Week 2: Plan for your Family
Week 3: Family Communication
Week 4: Youth Preparedness
Week 5: Livestock/Pet Preparedness
Each week, AVC News reporter, Mike McKay will break down each topic into a separate article.
This week’s topic; Making a Disaster Plan for your Family
EMERGENCY FAMILY PLAN
An emergency family plan should allow for members when together when separated from each other such as at work or school. The plan should also involve family members a distance away such as out of state relatives.
Building a family plan includes;
Deciding how family member will contact each other if separated during a disaster.
Picking a meeting place. One close to home and another, perhaps, more other safe location.
While developing a family plan, discuss special needs such as medications, physical limitations, pets and livestock.
Map evacuations routes not only at least two escape routes from your home but also escape from your neighborhood.
Discussions should also be held to plan escape routes from frequented locations such as work, school, church and the like.
While making your plans, good online resources include; ready.gov, redcross.org fema.gov and disasterassistance.gov to name a few.
