Wake County officials share tips on how to create emergency kits for natural disasters

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — September is National Preparedness Month, and Wake County officials are urging people to take proactive steps now to be ready in case disaster strikes.

Emergency management teams focus on helping the community build affordable and practical emergency kits — a vital step in being prepared for storms, power outages, and other unexpected events.

It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation across North Carolina, catching many off guard.

“We want everyone to have the materials they need at home to be prepared for a disaster and to help mitigate the impact of that disaster,” said Samantha Royster, program manager for Wake County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Whether the threat is a hurricane, tropical storm, tornado or even an ice storm, officials say now is the time to get an emergency kit together.

On Saturday, Wake County CERT partnered with several local Walmart locations to help residents find the right supplies.

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Hillary Liles, a CERT volunteer and EMT, said the process can feel overwhelming at first, but starting small is key.

“You know, the saying, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So, start with something small. Start with the most probable thing that’s going to happen. So, the most likely thing that’s going to happen is maybe a power outage,” Liles said.

Liles recommended beginning with batteries and flashlights, then slowly building your kit with essentials like three days’ worth of non-perishable food and clean water.

“If every time that you go to the grocery store, you buy one or two things on the list, you’re still prepared better than 90% of the population out there. People just don’t think about that,” she said.

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Families should also consider the unique needs of children and pets when building emergency supplies.

Medications are another critical item.

“Make sure you have plenty of those on hand if you can’t get out to the pharmacy in the middle of a disaster,” Royster said.

Lastly, Royster suggested including a few comfort items to help reduce stress, especially for kids.

“So how about even just some coloring books or activities that the kids can do to keep them entertained?” she said. “Even a deck of playing cards could be something to keep folks entertained.”

RELATED: How to prepare for hurricane season in North Carolina: home, food, power outage

As part of National Preparedness Month, Wake County will distribute free emergency kits at select Wake County Public Libraries on Saturday, Sept. 27.

If you want to find a checklist for your emergency kit, or find more information about emergency preparedness, click here.

Note: Featured video is from a previous report.