From the desk of the County Commissioners:

Westminster, MD, Thursday, August 31, 2023 – Today, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners proclaimed September as Carroll County Preparedness Month. September is also Maryland Preparedness Month and National Preparedness Month.

The theme for this year’s preparedness month for Carroll County is “Preparing for Older Adults!” Through the month of September, and year-round, the citizens of Carroll County are encouraged to have a plan and keep an emergency kit stocked and prepared in case of a need to shelter in place or evacuate. Building a kit and a plan with friends and family can be fun and can help put minds at ease knowing that you and your family have the items you need in an emergency.

“As we saw with the storm at the beginning of August, it is always the right time to be prepared. September as preparedness month reminds us to prepare ourselves and our loved ones for unexpected emergencies or disasters,” said County Commissioner Ed Rothstein. “It is important for all of us to remain vigilant and proactive when it comes to emergency preparedness as we never know when we will need to react, respond, and recover from an emergency.”

Common items that are a good idea to include in a ready kit are a flashlight with extra batteries, shelf-stable food, water for drinking and sanitation, a first aid kit, local maps, and a whistle to signal for help.

Several online sources providing good emergency preparedness information include:
1. Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM): http://mdem.maryland.gov
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): http://www.ready.gov

Additional information can also be found in the Are You Ready? Citizen’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness, and on the Carroll County Emergency Management website. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for Carroll Alert and the Prepare Me Carroll App.