It seems quite often that we hear about one natural disaster or another, somewhere in the world. The month of September is recognized as National Preparedness Month. This year’s theme is “Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.” and it is a good reminder to prepare ourselves and our family for the next natural disaster that may affect us directly. Learn more at www.ready.gov/september.

We encourage you to:

• Sign up for emergency alerts from the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) at www.ReadySBC.org.
• Sign up for emergency information from the City of Goleta at http://tinyurl.com/goletaemergency and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
• Make an evacuation plan. www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
• Have a battery-powered radio ready to listen to local radio stations if the power goes out. https://readysbc.org/storm-ready/radio-ready/ 
• Be familiar with 211. Santa Barbara County’s 2-1-1 Helpline is the first point-of-access to all community services, including emergency information. A live person is available to answer questions 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, and in multiple languages. www.211sbco.org
• Finally, know your neighbors and look out for each other. Share verified information from trusted resources.

Residents can also sign up for the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training offered throughout the year. The next training opportunity is in October.