'Be prepared' isn't just a motto

Sep. 18, 2025

By Mary Wade Burnside

You don’t have to look far to see disasters happening.
This past Father’s Day weekend, our neighbors to the north and south were devastated by flooding.
Images of water pouring out of a collapsing apartment building in Fairmont shocked and disheartened viewers.
And then there was the flooding in the Northern Panhandle. I saw the photos first thing the next morning and immediately texted a friend, who had traveled to Wheeling with her daughters to listen to a band at an establishment near the river.
“I got an alert on my phone saying there was an imminent flood risk,” she recalled. “I had never gotten a warning like that. I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want to panic. Others got the notice too and were wondering if we really should evacuate right away.”
The decision was made for them because the place was closing down, so her crew headed back to Morgantown.
By the time they returned, her daughters had messages from friends about cars being swept away in swift water and other damage that had occurred, although not near the venue where they had been.
When you hear stories like that, it’s hard not to take stock and wonder if something like this could happen to you.
And, if so, what will you do?
Established in 2004, September’s National Preparedness Month highlights the importance of being ready for whatever emergency situation you might encounter.
Monongalia County Health Department’s Threat Preparedness staffers undergo training to help community members help themselves, if the need arises.
In addition to CPR/AED training, we also offer Stop the Bleed instruction, which can be utilized in emergency situations using, if necessary, ordinary objects to pack a wound or apply a tourniquet. To schedule a training, email Joseph.L.Klass@wv.gov.
Threat Prep employees also participate in drills and training to prepare them to help the community in a variety of situations, including radiation, weather, active shooters, and more.
While MCHD Threat Preparedness is here to help, it’s also good for individuals to plan ahead so they will know what to do if the unexpected happens.
Ready.gov, FEMA’s preparedness site, encourages individuals to make an emergency kit to have useful items on hand. You can refer to www.ready.gov/kit to see a list of practical items to
gather.
Other suggestions include:

Learn how to receive emergency alerts.

Make plans for both sheltering in place and also evacuation.
Create a communication plan with your family in case disaster strikes when you are at different locations.
There are also financial preparations you can make to better help in the event of an emergency.
Keep financial, critical household and medical information handy, including printed copies.
Purchase homeowners or renters insurance, as well as health and life insurance if you don’t have them.
Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food. Remember, homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover flooding, so if you believe this is a risk to your property, consider looking into it.
Additionally, so many people are pet owners and you don’t want to forget about your furry (or scaly) family members. Microchipping dogs and cats will aid in them being reunited with you more easily. Stocking extra pet food also is a good idea.
You also might want to make a plan with your neighbors, including those with pets who can serve as an evacuation backup in case you are gone, and vice versa.
But getting to know your neighbors is also a good idea in general, because you can help each other out and check on the elderly and others who might need assistance when an incident occurs, even if it’s just a short-term power outage.
​Disasters aren’t fun to think about but being prepared makes them easier to handle when something happens.
Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department. Email her at MaryWade.Burnside@wv.gov.