The El Paso County Office of Emergency Management in conjunction with Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management recognizes September as National Preparedness Month. Sponsored by the National Ready Campaign, Preparedness Month focuses on developing and practicing an emergency preparedness plan with family, neighbors and community.

The Board of El Paso County Commissioners will proclaim September as National Preparedness Month at its regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 6. The Commissioners meet each Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Hearing Room at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave. in downtown Colorado Springs.

City Council will declare National Preparedness Month during the City Council Meeting on Sept. 11.

Throughout the month of September, El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs will promote preparedness via Facebook and Twitter.

As part of National Preparedness Month, El Paso County, the City of Colorado Springs and the City of Manitou Springs have invited residents in the Becker’s and Cedar Heights neighborhoods (near Garden of the Gods Park) to participate in a wild land fire evacuation drill on Saturday, Sept. 8.

El Paso County will also offer free emergency preparedness classes and presentations on disaster readiness to community groups throughout National Preparedness Month and into October. To learn more, visit www.epccert.org or call (719) 575-8858.

For more information, story ideas and interview opportunities, media representatives can contact Matt Steiner with El Paso County at (719) 520-6403 or Dee Brown with the City of Colorado Springs at (719) 385-5258.

Additional resources can be found on the internet by visiting the County’s Office of Emergency Management at https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/office-emergency-management/, going to the City’s OEM site at https://coloradosprings.gov/office-emergency-management, or by visiting the National Preparedness Month website at https://www.ready.gov/september.