MAYOR'S MESSAGE Being Prepared Starts at Home September is National Preparedness Month, and here on the Oregon Coast, being prepared for an emergency is something we should all take seriously. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world, but we also know that earthquakes, tsunamis, winter storms, flooding, wildfires, and power outages are all part of the risks that come with living here. At our September 15 City Council meeting, City Council unanimously proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month in Coos Bay. This year’s national theme is “Americans Stand Ready,” and I think that is a good reminder that preparedness really does begin with each of us. It is easy to put emergency planning on the list of things we will get to someday. The reality is that a little preparation now can make a big difference when something unexpected happens. That might mean making sure your family knows where to meet after an emergency, knowing your evacuation route, keeping some extra food and water on hand, or thinking about what your pets may need. Oregon’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program encourages all of us to work toward having enough supplies to take care of ourselves and our families for two weeks following a major disaster. You do not have to do everything at once. Add a few extra items to your supplies when you go to the store, talk with your family about what you would do during an emergency, and take some time to learn about the resources available in our community. A great place to do that will be Coos County Prepares, a community preparedness and safety fair on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pony Village Mall. This is a good opportunity to learn more about emergency preparedness and the steps you can take to make your household more resilient. Our first responders will always be there when we need them, but during a large-scale emergency their resources may be stretched throughout our community. The more prepared each of us can be, the better able they will be to help those who need them most. I hope you will take a little time this month to think about how prepared you and your family are. A few simple steps today can make all the difference tomorrow. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay