09/09/2026
County officials encourage planning during National Preparedness Month
Lauderdale County officials are encouraging residents to plan ahead for disasters and emergencies as the nation observes National Preparedness Month in September.
The week-long observance, now more than 20 years old, promotes education, preparation and planning. This year’s theme is “Americans Stand Ready,” recognizing Americans’ ability to protect their communities and work with unity to help friends and neighbors recover after disaster strikes.
Residents are encouraged to make plans in the event of an emergency that includes essential information about everyone in the household, where and when to evacuate, how to communicate if separated, regularly visited locations and more.
“It’s not just our family. We’ve got to think about our homes. We’ve got to think about our pets and make sure that we have a plan in case any emergency comes up we’re ready to activate that plan, all members of the family know what that plan is and everybody knows what their part is to do in the home,” said Lauderdale County Emergency Management Director Odie Barrett.
Some disasters, such as tornadoes, can’t be fully predicted, but simple preparations can make a difference in the event a tornado forms. Moving patio furniture inside or securing it down can keep it from being blown away, Barrett said, and turning trampolines upside down when there is severe weather can reduce the chance of wind throwing them into other things.
Other considerations for emergency plans include bringing pets inside the home or garage ahead of bad weather, knowing what bathroom or interior safe room to gather in, wearing clothing and shoes in case a home is damaged and having helmets to reduce the risk of injury from falling objects are all good things to include in a family’s disaster plan.
“In the case something happens and a tornado hits your home and damages your home, where are you going to go? Do you need to go to a neighbor’s house? Does everybody in the family know, ‘Hey, we’re going to meet at Aunt Susie’s,’ or ‘We’re going to meet and our friend Joe’s house?” Where is it that the family needs to go to,” Barrett said.
Residents living in a mobile home should identify somewhere to go during the storm, whether that is a friend, family member or neighbor’s house. It’s not that mobile homes are more susceptible to damage, Barrett said, but the open crawlspace underneath creates an opportunity for high wind to lift the structure up.
Having an emergency kit stocked with non-perishable food, necessary medication, enough water for every member of the family, important documents, a first aid kit and other items is another way for families to prepare for severe weather, disasters and emergencies. Keeping cash on hand is also a good idea, Barrett said, as card readers need power and connectivity to process payments.
Staying informed is vital in an emergency, Barrett said, and residents should make sure they have a way to receive emergency alerts. Small power banks are relatively cheap and can help keep phones charged if power goes out. A weather radio can also help keep people informed of severe weather and other hazards in their area.
Lauderdale County residents can also sign up to receive emergency alerts through LEMA’s emergency notification system. The system allows LEMA officials to push out emergency notifications to residents living or located in particular areas of the county, pinpointing hazards such as tornadoes and other events impacting small portions of the county.
“If a tornado is in a particular area, we’re no longer warning the entire county. We’re only warning those people who are in that polygon where that tornado is going to be,” Barrett said.
For more information about disaster preparedness, building an emergency kit or how to prepare for specific disasters, visit ready.gov. Residents can also sign up for emergency alerts through LEMA by going to https://lema.app.regroup.com/contacts/sign_up.
