September is National Preparedness Month, which encourages Americans to prepare for emergencies. Also in September, is the usual peak of hurricane season. As many within Winter Springs know, hurricane season can be a stressful time, but taking these steps will make it less stressful, and easier to prepare for. According to ready.gov, there are four main steps that Winter Springs families should take to be prepared. Firstly, families should know their risks. This means knowing your potential risk if a storm like a hurricane or tornado comes. For example, if someone lives in a flood prone area, they should be aware that they could have a higher chance at flooding. Secondly, families should create an emergency family plan. Having an emergency family plan reduces stress, saving time and money. Thirdly, building an emergency supply kit can help when you can not get out of your home without having a risk of harm, and allows you to have enough supplies until help arrives. Supplies that you should have in the supply kit include enough food, water, and medicine that is needed. Finally, getting involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies can help you save a life in the worst case scenario. There are many local first aid classes in the county that can help you get CPR certified. There are also other programs that can help you be better prepared for disaster response like a Community Emergency Response program that can teach disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and medical operations. Overall, the best way to be prepared for this hurricane season, as well as the next ones, is to be proactive in preparing, not reactive, as it may already be too late.