September is National Preparedness Month – Are You Ready?

Meet Ready Rex—the only dinosaur who survived the asteroid because he was prepared! 🦖 He’s here to help Clinton County families get ready during National Preparedness Month.

Every September, communities across the nation take part in National Preparedness Month—a time dedicated to reminding us that disasters don’t wait. Whether it’s a tornado, winter storm, flood, or even a long-term power outage, emergencies strike suddenly, and the best way to face them is to be ready before they happen.

This year, Clinton County EMA is joining the campaign with the help of our new mascot, Ready Rex 🦖—the only dinosaur who survived the asteroid because he was prepared! Ready Rex will be sharing simple tips each week to help your household get ready step by step.

Weekly Topics You’ll See This Month

• Week 1 (Sept 1–6): Identify Your Risks - Know the hazards most likely to affect Clinton County—tornadoes, winter storms, floods, utility failures, and hazardous materials. Awareness is the first step to action.

• Week 2 (Sept 7–13): Plan Ahead - Create a family communication plan. Write down contacts, pick meeting places, and make sure everyone knows the plan.

• Week 3 (Sept 14–20): Mitigation - Small steps—like cleaning gutters, trimming branches, and securing hazardous materials—can prevent big damage later.

• Week 4 (Sept 21–27): Preparedness - Build or update your emergency kit. Include water, food, a flashlight, first aid supplies, and items specific to your family’s needs.

• Week 5 (Sept 28–30): Safety Skills - Learn lifesaving basics like CPR, fire extinguisher use, and Stop the Bleed. Skills matter just as much as supplies.

Why It Matters

Preparedness is not about fear—it’s about confidence. Families who prepare are calmer in a crisis, bounce back faster, and support their neighbors better. Each step—no matter how small—reduces stress, saves money, and protects lives.

Ready Rex reminds us: “You don’t have to do everything at once—just start today.”

Get Ready Now!

Don’t wait for the next storm or emergency to remind you that you’re not ready. Use this month as your chance to:

✅ Sit down with your family to talk risks.

✅ Start a plan and write it down.

✅ Take one simple mitigation step this week.

✅ Begin building your emergency kit.

Preparedness starts with YOU—and it starts NOW.