Are you ready to help your community during an emergency?

County Emergency Manager reminds residents how to prepare for an emergency.

Reno, Nevada. Sept. 19, 2016. September is National Preparedness Month and Washoe County’s Office of Emergency Management is reminding residents what to do to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

Each week in September, Washoe County is distributing tips to help people prepare by making emergency plans, getting involved, assembling emergency kits and staying informed.

Preparedness Tip #1: Get Involved: Being prepared is more than preparing your friends and family.  There are services available to help the community and different volunteer groups so you can help the community during a disaster. 

Washoe County Animal Services

Washoe County Regional Animal Services promotes responsible care of animals through education, proactive outreach, and regulation making Washoe County a safe community.  They also help during a disaster to take care of animals and families that are evacuated out of their homes.

Washoe County Community Emergency Response Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), represents the largest and most broadly-trained of the volunteer Citizen Corps Program (CCP) groups. CERT helps prepare people to respond to emergencies in their communities

Go to http://www.wcsovolunteer.org/ to learn more about getting involved.

Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps

The Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was created to support public health and emergency response efforts during natural disasters and other emergencies. By providing trained volunteers to help staff shelters, alternate care sites, and points of dispensing, the MRC provides a level of support that allows our region's patient care facilities to conserve the limited medical resources during disasters.

For more information, visit: https://www.washoecounty.us/health/programs-and-services/emergency-preparedness/mrc/index.php

American Red Cross of Northern Nevada

As a Red Cross volunteer, you can help people displaced by disaster, or go into schools and show children how to prepare for a fire. 

To become a Red Cross Volunteer, visit their website and sign-up: http://www.redcross.org/local/nevada/northern-nevada/volunteer

Do you know your neighbors?

Regardless of the type of emergency you may face or where you live, it’s important to know your neighbors.

Here’s why:

• Emergency response teams may be delayed
• Your neighbors may be the first ones who can help
• They know where you live and will have a better idea of what you might need

Visit Washoe County’s Emergency Management website for more information: https://www.washoecounty.us/em/preparedness/GettingToKnowYourNeighbors.php

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