Montgomery County proclaims September National Preparedness Month, urges residents to build emergency kits and volunteer

Montgomery County leaders and emergency-management partners on Tuesday proclaimed September 2025 as National Preparedness Month and urged residents to prepare family emergency plans, assemble kits and sign up for county alert notifications.

The proclamation, presented on the council dais and signed by County Executive Mark Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart, called for residents to prepare for natural and human-caused disasters and to participate in community preparedness activities.

County emergency officials said preparedness lowers injuries and economic losses in disasters. “Talking about the possibility of a disaster or emergency is not easy, but having a conversation with family members and friends is important to being prepared and staying safe,” a presenter said. The county’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) and partner organizations outlined practical steps residents can take and local events to help them act on that advice.

OEMHS and partner speakers listed items for a basic emergency kit and practical planning steps: nonperishable food, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, at least 14 days of prescription medication, a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, a first-aid kit, flashlights and extra batteries, and charging cables for cell phones. Officials also urged families to store critical phone numbers in digital and paper form and to agree on an easy-to-find meeting place.

The county promoted a free Ready Montgomery emergency preparedness and public-safety fair hosted by OEMHS on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wheaton Local Park on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. Officials asked residents to sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive official emergency notifications.

Speakers from nonprofit and volunteer organizations described ways for residents to get trained and help their neighbors during incidents. The presentation listed volunteer and partner groups active in disaster response, including the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army Montgomery County Corps, Maryland National Capital Region Emergency Response System, Montgomery County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s emergency response teams, and the county Medical Reserve Corps. Officials encouraged residents to seek training in CPR, AED use and naloxone administration and to consider joining local volunteer teams that coordinate with emergency responders.

Officials emphasized that federal support for disasters can be delayed or limited and said local preparedness and volunteer capacity make responses faster and more effective. “We want to give you the tools to help yourselves and help your neighbors,” a county speaker said, while reassuring residents that county responders will continue to assist when needed.

The proclamation and accompanying remarks noted OEMHS’s year-round focus on resident preparedness and described the community organizations active in disaster (COAD) as a network that includes nonprofits, civic and faith-based groups and government agencies working together at all stages of disasters.

Officials invited residents to the Sept. 13 fair for trainings and resource tables and encouraged participation in COAD and local volunteer teams to strengthen community resilience.