This past weekend, many of us in Teaneck and Bergen County were under a tornado watch as some serious weather worked its way through the area.

I wanted to remind your readers that, once again, September has been designated National Preparedness Month, in recognition of which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) want you to get involved by joining the National Preparedness Coalition. You can access more information and get involved by visiting their website at http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM.

The Coalition’s Online Community is where communities, businesses, organizations and families can connect and collaborate on emergency preparedness. FEMA invites everyone to use the Coalition to empower themselves to prepare and to coordinate preparedness activities with their families, neighbors, co-workers, and those with whom they may study or worship. I encourage each of you to have a look at the Coalition’s website to familiarize yourself with some of the great resources available to all.

Most of what you will need to know about what should be done before, during and after an emergency can be accessed from www.ready.gov. Additional information tailored to New Jersey residents can be found at www.ready.nj.gov or www.ready.gov/new-jersey.

- Yitz Stern 

Yitz Stern is a Teaneck Township Councilman