Arlington Plans National Preparedness Month Events

September is National Preparedness Month, and Arlington County is planning several events and initiatives to coincide with it.

"As we saw , county resources can be stretched thin," said Jack Brown, director of the county's Office of Emergency Management.

"So, we want the entire Arlington community to be a part of the response. Whether it's a storm or a terrorist attack, we want people to be prepared for all hazards: stay informed, listen to the radio, keep your ears to the ground, and make the right decisions to keep yourself and your family safe."

Brown asks that everyone check their supplies and make sure to have three to five days of nonperishable food and water on hand, along with batteries, a battery-powered radio and medication.

The county is promoting its mobile app, Arlington Prepares, , along with other features.

For instance, for an earthquake, the app tells you to stay away from glass or a window.

"It's pretty basic information, but when an earthquake is happening, you might want to bring that up to make sure you're doing the right thing," Brown said. "If you're outdoors, stay there. But don't get next to a building or utility pole. It's all on there."

At 7 p.m. today, the county will hold free shelter-in-place preparedness training. The training is in Rooms C and D at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. See the PDF above for more information.

The Arlington County Emergency Preparedness Commission will hold its annual community forum at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive.

Community Preparedness Week starts Sept. 26, and the county is asking people to assemble an emergency "go bag" and sign a preparedness pledge.

Finally, on Oct. 23, Arlington County will participate in the Great Shake Out Earthquake Preparedness Drill.