Shelby County Says Start Now: Plan, 72-Hour Kit and Pet Supplies for September

TL;DR: Shelby County EMA Director Kristy Fryman told WDTN.com on Sept. 14, 2026 that Ohio families should use National Preparedness Month to make a plan, stay informed, and keep at least 72 hours of water, non-perishable food, blankets and pet supplies, checking kits when clocks change.

DAYTON, Ohio — September marks National Preparedness Month, and local emergency management agencies say now is the time to get prepared for when disaster strikes, as reported by WDTN.com on Sept. 14, 2026. The report by Megan Southall and Morgan Anderson quoted Shelby County EMA Director Kristy Fryman urging residents to be prepared and be informed. Fryman recommended a household plan plus an emergency kit with enough supplies for the household for at least 72 hours, including water, non-perishable foods and a blanket. Ohio emergency officials delivered the same core message statewide on Sept. 14, 2026, with Allen County EMA and Homeland Security Director Jared Gesler telling Lima Rotarians that September is Ohio Preparedness Month under the theme “Prepare Your Family,” as reported by WLIO via Hometown Stations.

What Shelby County EMA announced Sept. 14

Shelby County EMA Director Kristy Fryman said residents can do two things about unpredictable events: be prepared and be informed, according to WDTN.com. Disasters described in the WDTN.com report include flooding and fires, winter storms and manmade accidents. Fryman said disasters occur at inconvenient times rather than on a convenient workday schedule. She said a disaster scene will be chaotic, crazy and messy.

Fryman used a thunderstorm watch as an example of when planning starts at home. In that example, a resident considers where to go if a tornado or thunderstorm happens after a watch is issued. The WDTN.com article was posted Sept. 14, 2026 at 5:24 PM EDT and updated at the same time. The Dayton, Ohio report framed September as National Preparedness Month. Fryman said residents will never regret being prepared, even when planning feels early.

Ohio's statewide message: Prepare Your Family

September is Ohio Preparedness Month, and local emergency management officials are reminding families to have a plan for a variety of emergencies, as reported by WLIO in Lima, Ohio. Allen County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Director Jared Gesler spoke recently to Lima Rotarians about the importance of being prepared, according to the WLIO report published Sept. 14, 2026 at 5:23 PM EDT by Stacey Myers Cook. This year’s Ohio theme is “Prepare Your Family.” The Ohio theme covers weather-related emergencies such as flooding, high winds and tornadoes. The Ohio theme also covers hazardous materials situations and home fires.

Gesler said families should check emergency kits for water, nonperishable food, batteries, flashlights and necessary medications. He recommended keeping family contact information readily available. He recommended making sure everyone in the household knows what to do during a home fire or severe weather event. Gesler advised residents to check kits for water and nonperishable foods, batteries for lanterns and flashlights and other electronics, necessary medication, and family contacts. He advised households to know what to do for house fires and severe weather situations and to communicate that with family and household members. Residents can visit allen-ema.com for information about emergency preparedness kits and actions for different emergencies.

The 72-hour kit rule from Shelby County

Fryman recommends not only having a plan, but an emergency kit, according to WDTN.com. The kit should have enough supplies for the resident and family for at least 72 hours. The kit should include water. The kit should include non-perishable foods. The kit should include a blanket.

Fryman said to check the kit at least twice a year. She said to make sure the kit is built out. She suggested remembering the check when clocks change in the fall and spring. The twice-yearly check keeps water, food and blankets ready for flooding, fires, winter storms and manmade accidents identified in the Shelby County message.

Allen County’s checklist adds detail useful for Shelby County households building the same 72-hour supply. Gesler listed water, nonperishable food, batteries, flashlights and necessary medications as kit items to verify. His guidance includes batteries for lanterns and flashlights and other electronics. His guidance includes prescription-related medication needs and family contact information kept with the kit. Together, the Shelby County and Allen County lists point to water, food, warmth, light, power, medication and contacts as the base categories.

Make a plan before the watch is issued

Fryman tied planning to a specific home scenario involving a thunderstorm watch. The planning question in that scenario is where to go if a tornado or thunderstorm happens. The broader instruction from Shelby County is to make a plan now rather than during chaotic conditions. Ohio’s statewide instruction is to have a plan in place for flooding, high winds, tornadoes, hazardous materials situations and home fires.

The national Ready Campaign guidance adds structure for writing that plan down, as summarized by the University of Kansas Environment, Health and Safety office on Sept. 9, 2026. That office said to make a plan to keep family safe and prepared. That plan should include emergency contact information. That plan should include emergency meeting places. That plan should include medical information. FEMA’s Ready Campaign has marked National Preparedness Month each September since 2004 to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. The KU EHS summary said preparedness is everyone’s responsibility and that disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, sometimes without warning.

Households should talk about how members will communicate, where members will meet and what members will do in different situations. Households should consider different ages of members within the household when creating the plan. Households should consider family members with disabilities when creating the plan. Households should consider locations frequented such as work and school when creating the plan. Households should consider dietary needs, medical needs including prescriptions and equipment, and pets and service animals when creating the plan. Ready.gov offers free resources to create a downloadable family emergency plan that can be emailed and shared with loved ones.

Know where information will come from

Fryman paired being prepared with being informed. Being informed means knowing where to get information when it is most needed. The Ready Campaign summary from KU EHS said to download the FEMA App to get emergency safety alerts and resources. Aroostook County EMA guidance for September 2026 said to check state and local emergency management websites to sign up for newsletters and alerts. Aroostook County EMA also pointed to Ready.gov/Stand-Ready for updated resources and easy preparedness steps. Allen County points residents to allen-ema.com for kit information and actions for different emergencies.

Veterans and households with medical needs have an additional information step described by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Sept. 10, 2026. VA said it may contact Veterans in affected areas by phone, text or email with clinic closures, alternate care sites, pharmacy refills and evacuation guidance. VA urged Veterans to keep phones charged during a predicted weather threat and to save the VA medical center number in contacts. VA asked Veterans to keep phone number, address and email current so messages about prescriptions, telehealth and alternate clinics can reach them.

Pets, medications and contacts belong in the kit

Fryman specifically reminded households not to forget furry friends, according to WDTN.com. She referenced cats, dogs and whatever pet a household has at home. She said to include supplies for those pets as well.

Medication is a repeated item across Ohio and national lists. Gesler listed necessary medications and necessary medication as kit checks. The Muskingum County EMA guidance described Sept. 9, 2026 by WHIZ – Fox 5 said an emergency supply kit should include prescription medication. That kit should also include water, non-perishable food items, a phone charger and sleeping bags. Utah State University Extension guidance published Sept. 11, 2026 said households should keep an updated list of medications, maintain adequate supplies of prescription medications when possible, and store copies of important medical information in a secure location. That guidance suggested considering at least a one-week supply of essential prescription medications when possible and including medical equipment, specialty supplies and routine treatments in emergency plans.

Family contact information is also a kit and plan item. Gesler recommended keeping family contact information readily available and checking contacts for family during kit checks. The Ready Campaign plan elements include emergency contact information and emergency meeting places. Utah State University Extension said families should determine how members will contact one another, where members will meet if separated, and how members will receive emergency alerts.

Cash, power and the overlooked essentials

Muskingum County EMA Director Jeff Jadwin highlighted physical cash as an often overlooked emergency item, as reported by WHIZ – Fox 5 on Sept. 9, 2026. Jadwin said to keep cash in a place that can be grabbed readily when leaving. He linked the need to power outages that disable computers at gas stations and grocery stores and prevent electronic credit-card processing. His examples of events requiring readiness included tornadoes and winter storms.

Jadwin also pointed to August floods as an illustration of why kits must be ready in advance. He said floodwater in the area came up fast after repeated rises within a few days and left people without time to grab many things. He said supplies can be kept in a container, suitcase or whatever storage the household uses. The second week of National Preparedness Month focused on planning for family, with an emergency supply kit as one of the best plan elements. Ready.gov provides an emergency supply kit checklist and additional preparedness information.

Additional kit items named in 2026 county and Ready Campaign materials include flashlights and extra batteries, first aid kit, local maps, battery-powered or hand crank radio, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, whistle to signal for help, personal hygiene items, dust mask, plastic sheeting with scissors and duct tape for sheltering in place, moist towelettes with garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation, wrench or pliers for utilities, and manual can opener for food. Aroostook County EMA said households can gather supplies over time starting with items already at home like canned food and first aid supplies. Aroostook County EMA said to pack enough food, water and medicine for at least three days and to check with the local emergency management agency for area recommendations.

National theme for September 2026: Americans Stand Ready

The Federal Emergency Management Agency marks September 2026 National Preparedness Month with the theme “Americans Stand Ready,” according to VA News and university summaries of the Ready Campaign. KU EHS reported the theme on Sept. 9, 2026. Utah State University Extension reported the same theme on Sept. 11, 2026. The theme reflects unity, resilience and resourcefulness. The theme reminds residents that proactive steps before disaster and encouragement of loved ones contribute to national safety and security.

The 2026 theme focuses on several ideas about protecting households and aiding recovery. One idea is upholding patriotic duty through individual preparedness and self-reliance that supports first responders helping people on their worst day. Another idea is protecting family and friends using household knowledge of how to keep loved ones safe when things go wrong. Another idea is helping communities through proactive community readiness that contributes to national resilience. When residents are prepared, first responders can focus on those who need help most. Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time, and readiness supports community and country.

September actions promoted under the theme are consistent across FEMA, county and university sources. Residents are asked to be informed about reliable emergency information sources. Residents are asked to make a family plan covering communication, meeting places and actions for different situations. Residents are asked to build a kit with essentials to stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Residents are asked to support community readiness through volunteering and training such as first aid and CPR. Training options named include FEMA’s Training and Education Program, the American Red Cross and local emergency management agencies.

What to do this week in Shelby County and beyond

Start with the Shelby County check described Sept. 14, 2026. Confirm the household has a written plan and a kit for at least 72 hours with water, non-perishable foods and a blanket. Schedule the next two kit checks for the fall and spring clock changes. Add pet food and pet supplies for cats, dogs or other home pets. Verify water, nonperishable food, batteries, flashlights, lantern batteries, electronics power, necessary medications and family contacts using the Allen County checklist. Store prescription medication, phone charger, sleeping bags and readily accessible cash using the Muskingum County checklist. Download the FEMA App for alerts, sign up for state and local emergency management alerts, and save local EMA resources such as allen-ema.com where applicable. Share the written plan and contacts with every household member so severe weather, fire, flood, high-wind, tornado and hazardous-materials actions are understood before conditions turn chaotic.

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