Sacramento County officials encourage having open conversations about emergencies and disaster preparedness. Photo courtesy of Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe.

Ensuring that the county is ready to handle natural and man-made emergencies is the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Services (OES).

It’s nearly impossible to predict when the next disaster will hit Sacramento County but Office of Emergency Services staff say it’s important to be ready for what might come next, whether it’s floods, fire or an attack.  That’s why the county is encouraging residents to learn how to protect themselves and their families from emergencies and disasters.

Starting a conversation today can help you and your family take more action to prepare. By taking simple steps, you can build your preparedness at your own pace.

The Office of Emergency Services suggests setting aside a time when everyone is calm and relaxed. It might help to hold continuous discussions, so decisions aren’t rushed and everyone is more comfortable talking about the topic. Talk about steps you’ve taken to prepare and encourage others to ask questions about preparedness actions that might work for them.

While you might not know when a disaster will happen, you can begin to take easy but impactful steps now to keep your family safe.

The public can find more ways to protect themselves and prepare for an emergency or crisis at sacramentoready.org.

Sacramento County residents are encouraged to sign up for Sacramento Alert at sacramento-alert.org to receive emergency alerts by email, phone or text. Residents will only receive alerts that are critical and time-sensitive, including flooding, levee failures, severe weather, disaster events, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods in specific geographic locations.

The flooding that stuck Sacramento County in 2017 and 2023 disrupted lives and caused destruction totaling in the tens of millions of dollars.

The 2025 National Preparedness Month puts a spotlight on a topic many don’t think about. Planning ahead now means being ready when disaster strikes in the future.