September is National Preparedness Month – the annual campaign to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses and communities. We want to encourage you – as individuals and families – to pledge to prepare during the month of September but we also want to encourage you and your family to make preparedness a part of your daily life every day moving forward. Here are three easy steps for you and your family to take to get involved and be better prepared:
Step 1: Pledge to Prepare
The first step to getting involved is to register as a coalition member at Ready.gov/pledge. Members will have access to the online community, resources and tools available to help get you and your family prepared for an emergency.
Step 2: Take a Free Online Preparedness Course
Developed in partnership with the Emergency Management Institute and in consultation with faith-based and community partners, FEMA’s “IS-909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone” training course will introduce you to a program for promoting individual and community preparedness through simple and engaging activities. The course is free, available online and is designed for anyone to use in coordination with your local emergency preparedness partners.
Step 3: Implement Simple Preparedness Activities
FEMA has made available to the public, free training and resources to help you and your family to take action and implement simple preparedness activities. Some of the simple activities include:
• Creating a no-cost or low-cost disaster kit;
• Preparing for utility outages; and
• How to use a fire extinguisher.

The Sitgreaves National Forest is planning prescribed pile burning on approx. 2500 acres beginning Wednesday, July 31, 2013. Prescribed burns will be along Forest Service Roads FR224, FR96, FR9, and FR271. Motorists and recreationists are advised to use caution when driving into smoke along travel routes and trails. Smoke may be visible from US Hwy 60, AZ State Hwy 260 and from Porter Mountain area.

Summer rains have arrived. With the rains, there are safety precautions to be aware of concerning the potential for flash floods and flooding. Flash floods can occur quickly, even without any visible signs of rain. It is important to be prepared for flooding especially if you are in a low-lying area, near water, or downstream from a dam. Even a very small stream or arroyo (dry creek bed) can overflow and create flooding. Other floods can develop slowly during an extended period of rain.
When heavy thunderstorms are expected, keep the following in mind:
-If camping, place the campsite on higher ground and avoid setting up your camp in drainage areas such as river beds and narrow canyons.
-During downpours, never drive across a flooded road. As little as 1 foot of water can move most cars off the road, and just 6 inches of fast moving water can sweep a person off his or her feet.

Be informed! Know the weather forecast for the area you will be in, and plan your activities accordingly.