ST. LOUIS - September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis urges everyone to prepare prior to the unknown.

The American Red Cross hopes people will have important conversations with their families about their preparedness if severe weather, an earthquake, or a fire happens. 

This past spring is a brutal reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters across the country.

"One of the important things that people can do now is to take the time to sit down as a family and talk through 'Where is our safe place?' especially when it comes to tornadoes and severe weather. Where in the house are we safe? When it comes to severe weather and tornadoes, that’s going to be your lowest-level indoor room without windows," said Ann Vastmans, communications coordinator with the American Red Cross.

Creating an emergency kit with essential items, including clothing, non-perishables, water, and medications, is essential, according to the American Red Cross. 

They say these items can be easily accessible for families if they need to shelter in place or evacuate.

“The Red Cross has an emergency app, and we highly encourage everybody to download that. It has steps that will guide you through making that emergency plan with your family so you can look at the different disasters and the different types of severe weather that we have in the St. Louis area, and it provides you with guidelines that you can follow to prepare with your family to have those conversations.”

For more information, visit here.