As America kicks off National Preparedness Month, the Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD) urges residents to review their emergency kits and take stock of what essential items might be missing or expired, like kitty litter or a whistle to call for help.

Learn how to build an emergency kit, make a family communications plan and stay informed during disasters at the Riverside County EMD public education booths. Each Friday in Sept. from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., a public education booth will set up at a local shopping mall. Community members will receive valuable tips and items to kick start their personal emergency kit, including emergency blankets, gloves, and flashlights.

• Friday, Sept. 2 – Wal-Mart of Murrieta, 41200 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd.
• Friday, Sept. 9 – Kmart of Jurupa Valley, 7840 Limonite Ave.
• Friday, Sept. 16 – Kmart of Desert Hot Springs, 14011 Palm Dr.
• Friday, Sept. 23 – Big Lots of Lake Elsinore, 32241 Mission Trail
• Friday, Sept. 30 – Wal-Mart of Beaumont, 1540 E. 2nd Street

Living in Southern California brings with it certain risks. Riverside County is prone to disasters like earthquakes, floods, wildfires and power outages. During National Preparedness Month, community members are urged to plan for being without power, water, food or other outside resources for a minimum of three days.

“Preparing for emergencies is the best way to ensure you and your loved ones are protected during disasters,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of the Riverside County EMD. “Preparation makes for resilient communities and shorter periods of recovery. The time to prepare is now. Join us in making Riverside County stronger.”

Visit RivCoReady.org for a complete list of emergency kit items and to register for the county’s early warning notification system (EWNS) to receive alerts when disasters affect your home or business. Follow us on Twitter at @RivCoReady for valuable emergency preparedness tips.