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By Michael Sutphin

BLACKSBURG, Va., September 5, 2008 -- With hurricane season in full gear, Virginia Cooperative Extension is working to educate citizens about what they can do before, during, and after a major storm hits the East Coast.

Individuals, families, and businesses can follow simple steps to prepare for the worst by creating an emergency supplies kit, developing an emergency plan, familiarizing themselves with local evacuation routes, and paying attention to instructions and warnings from emergency officials.

For more information about how to create your own emergency plan, steps to take during an evacuation order, extra precautions for special-needs individuals during a disaster, and other topics related to emergencies, check out Extension’s media kit on emergency preparedness.

In 2007, Extension announced a partnership with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to improve the commonwealth’s response to emergencies and disasters. Extension agents in parts of the Tidewater, Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore regions will be mobilized in the event of an actual or anticipated federally declared disaster in Virginia. They will serve as liaisons between federal officials in the field and state and local officials during disaster relief and recovery activities in an effort to keep all parties informed of the status, progress, needs, and any problems related to disaster recovery.

For more information about emergency preparedness in your locality, contact your local Extension office.

Contact Michael Sutphin at msutphin@vt.edu or (540) 231-6975.

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