CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA—The time to prepare for emergencies is now, before they happen. That’s why the volunteer Chesterfield Health District Medical Reserve Corps and the Chesterfield Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, are working to ensure the safety of citizens and their families during a two-month campaign that asks “Are You Ready?” and provides the help to answer a resounding “yes!”

The Are You Ready? campaign begins this month and will run through Oct. 31. The campaign includes a series of basic and in-depth classes held at various times and at various locations in Chesterfield and Powhatan counties and the city of Colonial Heights, as well as a Community Preparedness Fair on Oct. 10. The classes, class materials and fair are free.

Are You Ready?classes cover topics including emergency planning for seniors and their caregivers, helping people with special needs, preparing family members, and providing for pets in emergencies. Citizens will learn how to identify hazards, take protective measures for specific hazards, create a family disaster plan, assemble a disaster supply kit, be self-sustaining for at least three days, and how to recover from a disaster.

Classes will be held 7-8:30 p.m. on four weekday evenings and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on four Saturday mornings. The four Saturday classes are limited to 25 participants each. The four evening classes are limited to 40 participants each. Registration is required, and participants are asked to register at

least five days in advance of the class they wish to attend by sending an e-mail to CERTChesterfield@verizon.net and including their names, phone numbers and events they want to attend. Registration ensures that there will be enough classroom materials for all participants.

Are You Ready?is sponsored by the Chesterfield Citizens Corps Council, and members of both the Chesterfield Health District Medical Reserve Corps and the Chesterfield Community Emergency Response Team are donating their time to teach the classes. The public library systems of Chesterfield County, Powhatan County and Colonial Heights, as well as the Brandermill Woods Retirement Community, are providing classrooms. Additional support is being provided by the Chesterfield County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Chesterfield Health District, Colonial Heights Fire and EMS, Powhatan County Emergency Management, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

For more information, call 804-768-7292 weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Are You Ready? event schedule

September

• Sept. 12 —Are You Ready?Course 1 at Colonial Heights Public Library, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Sept. 14 — Family/General Emergency Planning Class. Chester Library, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Sept. 26 — Are You Ready?Course 2 at Clover Hill Public Library, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Sept. 28 — Seniors/Caregivers Emergency Planning Class, at Brandermill Woods Retirement Community (time to be announced).

October

• Oct. 1 — New MRC Member Training Class. Meadowdale Library, 7-9 p.m.
• Oct. 6 — Special Needs Planning Class, Bon Air Library, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Oct.10 — Chesterfield Community Preparedness Fair, South Chesterfield LDS
• Oct.10 — Fire Prevention Week observance, various locations
• Oct. 17 — Are You Ready?Course 3, Powhatan County Library, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Oct. 20 — Family/General Emergency Planning Class, Clover Hill Library, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Oct. 22 — New MRC Member Training Class, Meadowdale Library, 7-9 p.m.
• Oct. 24 — Are You Ready?Course 4, Bon Air Library, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Oct. 28 — Capitol District Flu Vaccination Exercise, Capitol Square
• Oct. 30 — Joint CCC Victory Celebration (location to be announced)