The City and County of Sacramento remind Sacramento residents to take time this month to prepare for emergency situations including extreme winter and summer weather and flooding.

Residents and businesses should have emergency plans and kits ready. Everyone should build a kit including all items necessary to sustain them through a disaster.

All Sacramento area residents and businesses are encouraged to purchase a flood insurance policy, even if it is not required. Homes and businesses are often the largest investments that you have and homeowner’s policies will not cover flooding damages caused by heavy winter rains or levee failures. Flood insurance policies can be as little as $350 per year, are available from your insurance agent and take 30 days from the date of purchase to become effective.

Quick Tips to Prepare:
• Plan ahead before an emergency
• Review your flood insurance needs
• Make an emergency kit
• Adopt a communication plan
• Plan together with neighbors
• Prepare for seniors and people with disabilities
• Learn First Aid
• Learn how to be prepared for all types of emergencies
• Know how to keep your pets safe
• Download an “Are You Prepared” Guide
• Sign up with the nation Next of Kin Registry
• Get additional help on the Federal Be Prepared page
• Sign up for Reverse 911 at http://www.sacpd.org/stayinformed/reverse911/

The City and County of Sacramento offer a variety of tools and information to help prepare and plan for emergencies at www.sacramentoready.org and other tools including:
• Subscribing to email alerts with the County or with the City at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CASACRA/subscriber/new
• http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/City-of-Sacramento-CA/273440976015340
• http://twitter.com/#!/SacCountyCA
• http://twitter.com/#!/SacCityPIO

Additional information can be found at www.ready.gov. Preparing for emergencies is everyone’s responsibility.