By Eilene Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

September is National Preparedness Month and one of the pillars of the American Red Cross is helping us prepare for emergencies. Disasters. The unexpected!

Here in northern Ohio, we’re used to seasonal threats: snow and ice storms, thunderstorms and flooding, the occasional tornado alert and rogue straight-line winds that seem to come out of nowhere. Even extreme heat and power outages.

And, of course, home fires. About 90 percent of the emergencies that Red Cross volunteers respond to are home fires.

During the 12 months ending June 30, across northern Ohio alone, we responded to 1,123 disasters, helped 4,428 children and adults, and provided $1.2 million in financial assistance.

Sadly, three of those events were manmade disasters, in quiet residential neighborhoods. Remember the small plane that crashed into a house in Akron back in May? That house burned to the ground.

Or how about the gas line explosion that destroyed three homes and displaced 15 families in Twinsburg in July?

“I’m on the second floor and all my windows blew out. All I have is my phone, and myself,” a resident told a TV reporter in the aftermath. Red Crossers stepped in to help with shelter arrangements and funds for immediate needs in that neighborhood.

For years, the Red Cross has urged everyone to “Make a kit. Have a plan. Be informed.”

All sound advice, but there’s one thing we can all do right now that’s easier, quicker and cheaper: Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to your mobile phone. This resource links you to weather alerts, preparedness tips, even the location of shelters should that be needed.

The app even lets you send an “I’m safe” message to anyone you want to reassure if you happen to be in the vicinity of a disaster.

Put together a “go bag” of supplies you’d need if you had to shelter in place or evacuate on short notice: bottled water, non-perishable food items, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit and seven-day supply of medications (or at least copies of your prescriptions).

This is just for starters. Find a complete list at redcross.org.

And don’t forget items for anyone in the household with special needs, like a baby, or a pet!

Make a plan with your family. Does everybody know how to get out of the house in case of fire, for example? And can they do it in three minutes or less? Agree on a place to meet outside the home, so firefighters don’t have to go looking for someone inside. While you’re at it, be sure everyone in the household has family or friend phone numbers in their mobile phone; and be sure children know a parent or guardian’s phone number.

Be informed. Learn the location of storm shelters you can get to if a tornado threatens. Download free emergency alerts from your local law enforcement and Emergency Management Agency. They’ll be the first to let you know about everything from a road closure to a catastrophic event.

And take first aid and CPR/AED classes from your local Red Cross, so you’ll know how to save a life at home or on the go.

My husband says failing to plan is the same as planning to fail. Planning to deal with an emergency isn’t the same as wishing for one to happen. Planning is preparedness, and there’s no better time to do it than NOW!

For more preparedness tips, go to redcross.org and search the key words “disaster preparedness.”

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer