By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Disaster could strike anywhere, anytime, and the American Red Cross is encouraging everyone to stay prepared
Angie Springs spokeswoman of the Red Cross says that no matter what sort of disaster people might be facing, the steps they need to take to be prepared stay the same.
"General preparedness is the same no matter what kind of disaster that you're preparing for, so in our area here, or even if you lived on the coast and you were preparing for a hurricane, or you were in an area that's prone to wildfires, we want to make sure that every family has a disaster supplies kit in your home," Springs tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
She also adds that families should stay prepared by preparing a plan of action, as well as finding ways to stay informed.
Springs says that right now disasters are occurring in areas where people often think that could never happen to them, but Springs says that is not the case.
"You know disasters do not discriminate, it can happen to anyone at anytime, it doesn't matter where you live, how much money you make, we should all be prepared in the event that the unthinkable happens," Springs says. "And this is a simple way that we can be proactive in how we're going to be prepared in our households."
Springs says that disasters do not discriminate.
"It doesn't matter where you are at, doesn't matter where you live, disasters can happen at anytime," Springs explains. "House fires happen every single day to families that never thought it would happen to them, and so you just want to be prepared."
October is Fire Safety Awareness month, and Springs says there is one simple step everyone should follow.
"Check your smoke alarms, make sure that your batteries in your smoke alarms have been changed and that they work properly," Springs says.
Springs adds that other steps to stay prepared for a house fire, as well as any disaster, include making an emergency preparedness kit and making a plan for you and your family.
You can find more information on emergency preparedness HERE.