There’s no time like the present to prepare your home and family for an emergency. That’s especially true in September, National Preparedness Month. The Greater Federal Way Emergency Management Program provides training and information to help residents with emergency preparedness.

The program supports and promotes citizen education and neighborhood preparedness efforts. Programs offered include the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET).

Both programs teach essential preparedness and response skills, such as light search and rescue, triage operations and disaster medical, all of which help make a safer and better-prepared community.

Residents interested in learning more about the programs offered, or wish to have a preparedness presentation given are encouraged to contact Ray Gross at 253-835-2712 or ray.gross@cityoffederalway.com. Additional preparedness tips and resources are available at www.cityoffederalway.com/prepare.

The Greater Federal Way Emergency Management Program is a partnership between the city of Federal Way, Federal Way Public Schools, Lakehaven Utility District, St. Francis Hospital and South King Fire and Rescue. These public agencies have made preparedness a top priority and are working every day to ensure the community stands ready to respond to and recover from any disaster or emergency.

Basic preparedness, including an emergency 14-day supply kit, can make a critical difference in disaster recover at the family and neighborhood level and will help make the greater Federal Way community safer in times of disaster.

To have a community that is able to respond to and quickly recover from a disaster requires teamwork on all levels from first responders, the private sector, non-profit organizations and families or individuals. Developing a family emergency preparedness plan is a great place to start, said city officials.