The Georgia Emergency Management Agency's (GEMA) Ready campaign reminds Georgians that we all need to be prepared for an emergency. "Don't wait for someone else to take care of you and your family: Now is the time to plan and prepare," said GEMA Director Charley English.

Follow Ready Georgia's three simple steps to be ready for an emergency: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.

By taking these three steps - in particular having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car - Georgians will be prepared for potential winter power outages and icy roads. Each of these kits should include basic necessities such as water, food, and first aid supplies to help you survive if you are without power or become stranded in your vehicle.

The Ready Georgia Web site (www.ready.ga.gov) provides online step-by-step tools that enable you to create a custom preparedness plan and emergency supply kit. You can create a personal profile with basic family member information (medical instructions, pets) and contact information (work, school, emergency contact, meeting place). After you create your profile, a custom checklist and plan will be generated with recommended amounts of food and water your family will need to survive for 72 hours along with a personal emergency communication plan with specific meeting places.

"Remember, 70 percent of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and approximately 25 percent of all winter-related fatalities are people caught off-guard in the storm," says English. "By making the decision to be Ready in 2009 and following a few simple preparedness steps, Georgians will minimize the impact of any emergency, including winter weather."

For more information about Ready Georgia or to create your custom preparedness plan and emergency supply kit, visit www.ready.ga.gov.