Naval Air Facility Misawa's Emergency Management (EM) Team is informing those who serve and live on Misawa Air Base about how to prepare for emergencies during National Preparedness Month.

The team will hold various events throughout the month of September to increase awareness and promote the importance of always being prepared.

Damage Controlman 1st Class Timothy Larsen, the EM Team leader, and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Alfredo Sosa, the EM Team assistant, will be at the main entrance of the Misawa Air Base Exchange every Tuesday, to inform us why it's so important to be ready for an emergency throughout the year. At this table they will have pamphlets and games to better inform Misawa Airbase on the potential emergencies that can happen and how to prepare for them.

"We never know when an emergency is going to happen, but you can have a plan," said Sosa. "A good plan ensures the family has everything they need in an emergency kit and that every family member knows where to go during an emergency."

This year's theme is "Don't wait, communicate. Make your emergency plan today."

"Some don't start preparing for an emergency until an emergency actually happens and this is something we try to fix during National Preparedness Month," said Larsen. "The key to a good Emergency Management Plan is through preparedness of our families."

They will be ending the month with an emergency preparedness event on September 30. The event will feature a 5k run from the Civil Engineer (CE) building 793 to the Base Exchange, where they will have a first responder's vehicle and an earthquake simulator along with other family activities, including a bounce house.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/.