Preparedness Month 2025 - Do Just One Thing

September is National Preparedness Month - a reminder to take time to prepare for the unexpected.

Preparing for emergencies can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Preparedness isn’t about bunkers or stockpiles — it’s about small, practical steps that make you and your loved ones safer.

“This month, we're challenging every Frederick County individual and business to do just one thing to be more prepared for emergencies.”

– Anthony Rosano, Director, Division of Emergency Management

To get started, pick any task from this list:


Emergency Alerts & Information

  • Sign up for AlertFC for emergency notifications.

  • Follow official Frederick County Government social media accounts.

  • Buy a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio.

  • Program local radio stations on your car radio.

Home & Office Safety

  • Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.

  • Put a flashlight and extra batteries in one spot.

  • Identify safe spots in your home or workplace for severe weather (basement, interior room, etc.).

  • Clear gutters, drains, and yard debris to reduce flood or wind hazards.

Emergency Supplies

  • Talk to your doctor about how to get medications in an emergency.

  • Place an extra sturdy pair of shoes in your car or desk at work.

  • Add an extra can of soup or box of granola bars to your weekly shopping list.

Planning & Communication

  • Make a paper list of emergency contacts and leave a copy on your fridge, in the car and in your kids backpack.

  • Practice fire drills.

  • Introduce yourself to 2 neighbors.

  • Review and update insurance coverage for your home, business, or vehicle. Tip: make sure you discuss water damage related coverage with your agent!

Actions for Businesses

  • Sign up for AlertFC and add your business address to receive emergency notifications.

  • Develop or review an evacuation plan and practice with your employees. 

  • Ask your employees for an emergency contact name and phone number.

  • Check and restock your first aid kit.

September Activities and Events


Animal Control

Adopt a pet during September and Pledge to Prepare by signing up for AlertFC and you can enter a drawing to win one of four pet emergency kits.

Aging and Independence / Fire & Rescue

Join us at Fire and Rescue's monthly lunch-and-learns/blood pressure checks. We'll be there to chat with you about what happens when you call 9-1-1 and how to stay informed in an emergency. We'll even raffle off some goodies you can add to your emergency supplies.

  • FCG Senior Centers
    1. September 2nd – Brunswick, 12 E. A Street – 11am
    2. September 8th – Emmitsburg, 300 S. Seton Avenue – 12:30pm
    3. September 11th – Urbana, 9020 Amelung Street – 11am
    4. September 17th – Middletown, 101 Prospect Street – 10:30am
    5. September 18th – Frederick, 1440 Taney Avenue -  11:15am
  • Other Senior Centers
    1. September 11th - Middletown (AmVets), 408 West Green Street – 10:45am
    2. September 15th – Thurmont Senior Center, 806 East Main Street – 10:30am

Frederick County Public Libraries

Each of the nine library locations will offer Sesame Street activity books on preparing for or recovering from emergencies while supplies last.  Be sure to ask a librarian about books on weather, preparedness, and community helpers.

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service will host a SKYWARN Flood Class, September 17 from 6-8 pm at 5370 Public Safety Place, Frederick, MD 21704. Participants will learn about floods and how to become registered SKYWARN Spotters. Registration is required and limited to 50 participants.

Register here!

Solid Waste and Recycling

Weather Wednesday videos on Facebook will feature kid-friendly crafts made from reused materials. New projects will be posted each week throughout September.

Week 4: Tornado in a Jar

Materials:

  • clear glass or plastic jar with lid
  • clear liquid soap (hand soap or dish soap both work fine)
  • vinegar
  • water
  • glitter and food coloring (optional, but can make the vortex easier to see)

Instructions:

  1. Fill the jar almost to the top - leaving a little room for the soap and vinegar.

  2. Add a few squirts of soap.

  3. Add about a capful of vinegar.

  4. If you are added glitter or food dye, add that now. A little goes a looooooooong way.

  5. Replace the lid and make sure its tight.

  6. Give the jar a couple of good shakes then swirl quickly a couple times to see the tornado form. Younger children may need help with this step.

Week 3: Rain Gauge

Materials:

  • 2-liter clear plastic bottle
  • Pair of scissors
  • Permanent Marker
  • Ruler
  • Opaque Tape like duct or painters (optional)
  • Rocks (optional - helps keep gauge upright)

Instructions:

  1. Cut the top off the bottle at the line. Set aside - this will become your funnel. 

  2. If you are adding rocks to weight down the gauge, add them now.

  3. Using your ruler, mark the bottle with your measurements. You want to start your measurements at the bottom line of the 2-liter - this should be zero. Inch and half inch marks are a good choice. *You can also place a piece of tape on the bottle and mark your measurements on the tape - this can be easier to see.

  4. Add enough water to the bottom of the bottle to reach the bottom line where your measurements start.

  5. Place your rain gauge outside on a flat surface. Make sure the area above the gauge is open to the sky with no branches or other obstructions. 

  6. Observe how much rain we get with different storms! You can also track on a calendar how long between rain storms and how that changes the ground and plants.

  7. Remember to reset the gauge between storms. 

Week 2: Air Barometer

Materials:

  • Glass jar
  • Balloon
  • Pair of scissors
  • Thick elastic band (rubber band or hair elastic)
  • Drinking straw
  • Pens/Markers/Crayons
  • Piece of paper or cardboard to draw on
  • Paper
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. Cut the neck of the balloon. 

  2. Stretch the remaining top of the balloon over the mouth of the jar. You want to make sure its smooth and flat.

  3. Cut one end of the straw at an angle to create a pointer.

  4. Tape the other end of the straw to the center of the balloon.

  5. Place your barometer on a flat surface. Next to it, tape or prop up your piece of paper and draw a line on the paper where the straw point is. This will be your center.

  6. About an inch above your center line, draw a sun. Repeat an inch below but draw a rain cloud.

  7. Observe how the straw moves with different weather!

Week 1: Windsock

Materials:

  • Light weight tubular container (plastic bottle, plastic cups, cardboard food containers, etc.)

  • Ribbon, fabric scraps, or plastic bags to use as streamers

  • Markers or acrylic paints for decorating (optional)

  • Scissors

  • Something to attach streamers to windsock body (hole punch, double-sided tape, hot glue)

  • String for hanging

Instructions:

  1. Cut the container to make a cylinder or open cup shape.

  2. Decorate the outside with markers or paint if desired.

  3. Attach streamers to the bottom of the container.

  4. Add string to the top for hanging.

  5. Hang outside and observe how the streamers move with the wind.