COLUMBUS, Ohio — September is Ohio Preparedness Month, and state emergency officials are encouraging residents to take simple steps to make sure their families are ready for emergencies and disasters.
The annual campaign is coordinated by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and focuses on educating Ohioans about ways they can prepare before an emergency occurs.
The theme for 2026 is “Prepare Your Family,” with an emphasis on helping households consider their individual needs, create emergency plans and make sure family members know what to do if something unexpected happens.
Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick said the campaign encourages families to stay informed and connected while taking basic preparedness steps that can help protect loved ones during an emergency.
Each portion of September focuses on a different area of family preparedness. Sept. 1–5 focuses on building preparedness kits, followed by family emergency planning Sept. 6–12. Family communication is the focus Sept. 13–19, while Sept. 20–26 is dedicated to youth preparedness.
The final days of the month, Sept. 27–30, will focus on preparing for pets during an emergency.
Emergency preparedness can be particularly important when severe weather, extended power outages, flooding or other unexpected events disrupt normal routines. Officials encourage families to consider what they would need and how they would communicate if an emergency affected their home or community.
Ohio Preparedness Month is officially designated by the State of Ohio and coincides with National Preparedness Month.
Additional preparedness information and resources are available through the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Ohio Preparedness Month page.
Source: Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
