By Cassandra Harris

If a natural disaster or medical emergency struck today, would you be ready? September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign focused on encouraging Americans to take the time to prepare for emergencies of all types.

A key component of being prepared is having a plan. Emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and have the potential to impact you, your loved ones and your community. By taking the time to prepare now, you will be better able to deal with an emergency when it happens.

There are a number of free resources online that can help you create a simple emergency plan for you and your family. Visit www.ready.gov/make-a-plan or http://www.fema.gov/ for free plans and ways to protect the ones you love.