Williamson County proclaims September 2025 National Preparedness Month

Williamson County Commissioners Court declared September 2025 as National Preparedness Month during its Sept. 16 meeting and urged residents to stay informed, make a family evacuation plan and assemble emergency kits.

Bruce Clements, director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness for Williamson County, briefed the court on the 2025 preparedness theme — "returning to the essentials" — and reviewed the county's primary hazards: flood, wildfire, drought, extreme heat, winter storms and tornadoes. Clements and county staff emphasized the need to focus on vulnerable residents, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and those who rely on medical devices.

The proclamation encourages residents to prepare a minimum three-day supply of food and water, update prescription and legal paperwork in emergency kits, sign up for local alerts at warrencentraltexas.org and consult ready.gov for preparedness guidance. Commissioners praised emergency-management staff for lessons learned from recent flooding and winter storm events and for stressing periodic updates to kits and family plans.

Commissioner Long moved approval of the proclamation; Commissioner Cook seconded. The motion passed 4-0. Commissioners noted that preparedness reduces anxiety during emergencies and urged residents to consider keeping at least three days of supplies, preferably a week, especially for those in rural areas who could be isolated after storms.

Bruce Clements and emergency-preparedness staff posed for a brief photograph with commissioners after the proclamation was adopted. The county will continue outreach through the Office of Emergency Preparedness on local risks and shelter-in-place or evacuation guidance.