SELMA — The Dallas County Citizens Corps is preparing for the county’s fourth annual Be Ready Day.

The event is to remind people in the area to prepare in the event of an emergency, said Rhonda Abbott, interim director of the Dallas County Homeland Security & emergency Management Agency.

Be Ready Day is set for Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Bloch Park.

“Several agencies will set up booths and distribute disaster preparedness information,” Abbott said. “Emergency vehicles, equipment and personnel will be onsite with Selma Fire Department demonstrating extrication maneuvers for the public to view. The National Weather Service will unveil a “High Water Mark” sign, noting the highest recorded flood level in Dallas County. LifeSouth Bloodmobile will also be on site holding a blood drive.”

The key here is for families to prepare for any type disaster.

“We never think about how prepared we are for a disaster until afterwards,” said Jeff Cothran, vice chair for the citizens corps. “If we all could just do a little to prepare a “Be Ready” kit and keep it tucked away in a corner, you will be better prepared when the time comes to take care of your family and yourself.”

A “Be Ready” kit is simple. It includes a gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food; battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both; flashlight and extra batteries; first aid kit; whistle to signal for help; dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place; moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation; wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; can opener for food if the kit contains canned food; local maps; and a cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.

The citizens corps just received a $19,000 grant for preparedness activities including adding ham radio operators to the county’s preparedness efforts, said Dr. Monica Newton, chair of the corps.

“(Ham operators) are often the first to establish lines of communication between the people that need help and the responders,” Newton said. “The funds were used to buy a repeater to start a program here out of the Emergency Command Center.”

The citizens corps is made up of various agencies that coordinate volunteers to distribute food, water and ice during a disaster, such as a tornado or flood or some other event, Cothran said.

Newton added, “The best thing that people can do is prepare themselves and their loved ones for disaster. Dallas County is fortunate to have an active local emergency preparedness council and a Citizens Corps Council that develops training programs to help us be equipped until help arrives.”