Police Offer Guide for National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies, and the Leesburg Police Department is hoping citizens will take advantage of a tool kit than can help them make their own plan.

And the day after

Police created a Town of Leesburg Emergency Preparation Guide to "provides citizens with the necessary tools to plan, and prepare for emergencies and information about the Town of Leesburg’s response plans for different types of emergencies," the department said in an email.

"National Preparedness Month is an excellent time for our community to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies," Chief of Police Joe Price said. "Emergency preparedness is the responsibility of everyone and now is the time to do it. Simple steps such as creating a disaster supply kit, making a family disaster plan and getting informed can make a huge difference during a disaster and helps makes preparedness a priority in our town."

The guide goes over family emergency planning, evacuation routes, first aid and more.

Some of the tips the guide offers:

• Sign up for emergency alerts from Loudoun County.
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Create a family emergency plan, including an evacuation plan
• Create a three-day family emergency kit

It also directs residents to

•Department of Homeland Security (www.Ready.gov)
•American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)
•Virginia Department of Emergency Management (www.vaemergency.com)
•Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management (www.loudoun.gov)

For the full PDF, click on the link or view it in the media player above.

Ray Evans contributed reporting for this story.