A gallon of water. One radio. Eye glasses. Your mortgage papers.

Simple items that seemingly have nothing in common.

However, it is these simple items that mean so much during those precious minutes when a disaster hits ---when your house is flooding and you have to leave quickly or when emerging just moments after a tornado has damaged your home.

Those are the minutes when that water is so useful, when that radio is your only source of contact, that pair of eye glasses is incredibly important and your mortgage papers are the key to expediting your insurance claim. These items are so vital, so don’t wait to collect them. Don’t wait until severe weather is coming into your area, or when your basement has started to fill up with water. Put together your kit or buy a kit today.

Seize the day and the month! September is National Preparedness Month, the perfect time for your family to take three simple steps: Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed.

You don’t need to go through these important steps alone. We have volunteers who can give a presentation to your group about being Red Cross Ready, videos and online presentations, tips and lists that can help your family Be Red Cross Ready. Or get the information quickly and succinctly, check out our facebook or Twitter page. We’re tweeting helpful tips and info every day to celebrate this important month!

It only takes three simple steps to Be Red Cross Ready, to prepare for those precious minutes after or during a disaster---the minutes that count the most.

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin relies on donations of time and money so they can provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Dodge, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. To donate your time, please visit our Volunteer page. Financial donations can be made online through our secure contribution site.You can also support the Red Cross online by becoming a fan on our facebook page and following us on Twitter.