September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to encourage communities to prepare for emergencies before they happen. From wildfires and severe weather to power outages, emergencies can happen with little warning. Taking a few simple steps now can help reduce stress later, improve safety and make it easier to respond when emergencies arise.
At Xcel Energy, preparedness is a year-round effort. As wildfire risks continue to evolve across the communities we serve, we’re making strategic investments to help prevent wildfires, strengthen our electric system and support safe, reliable service for our customers and the communities we serve.
Preparedness, however, is a shared responsibility. While we continue investing in wildfire mitigation and system resilience, you can take simple actions to stay informed and be better prepared for emergencies and outages.
A month of preparedness: One action each week
Preparing for emergencies doesn’t have to happen all at once. This National Preparedness Month, consider taking one simple action each week.
Week 1: Stay connected
Make sure you can receive important information when you need it most before an emergency occurs.
-
Review your preferred notification settings and update your contact information in My Account.
-
Sign up for Non-customer notifications for locations important to you, like a loved one’s home, a business or a school.
-
Research and register for emergency alerts offered by your city, county and state.
Signing up and keeping your information current can help ensure you receive timely updates about planned and unplanned power outages and other emergencies.
Week 2: Build your kit
An emergency supply kit can help you manage safely through an outage or an evacuation. Be sure to including the following:
-
Food, water and clothing for several days.
-
Prescription medications, pet supplies and other household necessities.
-
Flashlights, portable chargers, batteries and first aid supplies.
Every household’s needs are different, so be sure to tailor your kit to your family’s situation.
Week 3: Make an emergency plan
An emergency plan helps everyone in your household know what to do if an emergency occurs. Your plan should:
-
Identify how family members will communicate if separated.
-
Choose an out-of-area contact person to help facilitate family communications.
-
Discuss meeting locations and home evacuation plans.
-
Consider the needs of children, older adults, pets and anyone who may need additional assistance.
Creating an Emergency Plan ahead of time can help make it easier to act when every minute counts.
Week 4: Prepare for wildfire risk
Wildfire preparedness is a shared responsibility, but proper preparation starts at home. Consider taking the following steps this week:
-
Learn about small steps you can take to help prevent wildfires.
-
Create defensible space around your home by removing flammable vegetation and materials.
-
Incorporate FireWise planting practices when planting near structures and utility equipment.
Helping our customers prepare
We recognize that outages can be especially challenging for customers with medical conditions or access and functional needs.
Customers in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico with qualifying medical conditions should consider enrolling in our medical assistance programs, which may provide energy assistance resources and additional communication about planned outages. Customers in Colorado who are enrolled in these programs and live in eligible wildfire risk areas may also qualify for our PSPS Backup Battery Rebate program.
Emergency preparedness: A year-round effort
Emergency preparedness isn’t limited to one month — it’s an ongoing collaboration among businesses, emergency managers, emergency responders, our customers and the communities we serve. We’re committed to operating safely, communicating clearly and working alongside our communities to enhance emergency preparedness, strengthen resilience and reduce wildfire risk year-round.
National Preparedness Month reminds us that preparedness starts with simple actions: whether updating your contact information or building an emergency kit, the steps you take today can help you, your family and your community be ready for whatever tomorrow might bring.