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Jefferson County official urges residents to assemble 72-hour emergency kit
Summary
Jesse Hower, Jefferson County’s emergency preparedness coordinator, urged residents to prepare a 72-hour kit, saying outside assistance can take at least three days to reach rural areas and that household preparedness reduces risk and disruption during disasters.
Jesse Hower, the emergency preparedness coordinator for the Jefferson County Health Department, urged residents to assemble a 72-hour emergency kit and be ready to care for themselves for the first three days after a disaster.
"In a major emergency, it can take 72 hours, oftentimes longer, for outside assistance to reach rural areas like ours," Hower said, noting hazards that can cut off roads and power, including severe winter weather, flooding, wildfire, hazardous materials incidents, extended power outages and earthquakes.
Hower framed preparedness as a practical responsibility rather than alarmism, saying that having a kit "means you're not scrambling in the middle of a crisis. It means peace of mind. It means you can focus on your family instead of searching for supplies." He stressed that neighbors helping neighbors helps keep Jefferson County resilient "no matter what comes our way."
As a clear call to action, Hower asked residents to "take a little time now and build your 72 hour kit because when an emergency happens, the best help might be the help you already have." The coordinator emphasized the standard public-safety guideline that households should plan to be self-sufficient for the first three days after an event.
The message is advisory: Hower described likely delays for outside responders in rural areas but did not announce any new county policy, funding, or program in this statement. Residents seeking official checklists or guidance should contact the Jefferson County Health Department or the county’s emergency management office for additional details.
