September is National Preparedness Month, and according to a 2023 survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, as it's called, around 51% of Americans say they're prepared for an emergency or natural disaster, but they may not be as ready as they think.

We spoke to the director of Lexington Emergency Management about what it takes to really be prepared.

So National Priorities Month is part of FEMA's ready campaign.

They do it every year.

They've done it since 2004.

We've also take part in that just because it's great for people to remember to be ready.

One of the main plans to have as a family emergency plan.

So whoever's in your house, whoever you are worried about in your area, your grandmother down the street, maybe a neighbor, a plan for if you lose power for 72 hours, if you can't get your medications or your dog food in there, and then if something happens, you have to evacuate.

Just everything you need to leave your house for 72 hours in a tub, a bag somewhere in your house that you can just grab and go or grab and use if need be.

So you have like your basics fire extinguisher, canned food, water, about a gallon of water per day per person.

Same thing with your pets.

Having spare dogs, food, spare medications.

Then the kit can be customized based on your individual family needs.

So if you have small children, maybe diapers, extra bottles.

One thing people don't tend to remember is having a spare set of glasses or a copy of your light glasses prescriptions.

You can get it refilled somewhere else if you lose them.

And then having cash in there in case power goes out.

And like credit card machines don't work.

Have a contact plan for your family.

Have a way or meeting place for you to get in touch with your family.

If you lose contact, how they can find you, where you'll go in a sense of an emergency.

So if you're 18 years old, moving to college and your dorms hit by a tornado.

Hopefully not.

Your parents know that you're going to go to this location on campus, and this is the number they can reach you, but just a way for your family to get in contact with you.

Because the most terrifying part of a lot of these emergencies is the unknown.

You never think it'll happen to you.

You think of Florida and the hurricanes or California, the wildfires.

But you never think that you're going to lose your entire home.

But when it does, it's terrifying and very scary.

But having a plan and having a kit and being prepared makes it just a little bit easier to get through that time with your family.

Some good advice to find out more about how to prepare for an emergency or disaster.

Go online to gov.

There you will find a step by step guide on actions you can take to be prepared.