What about this weather? That seems to be the conversation everywhere you go right now. And as we know, severe weather, whether storms or snow, can strike with very little warning.

Whatever the storm, it can take only a matter of seconds to change your life.

With some planning, you can help protect yourself, your family and others.

Many people tell me when I am out in the community speaking about this issue they plan to put together a weather emergency kit.

Don’t just plan. Put the thoughts into action so you will be ready for whatever type of storm that develops.

Every family needs to establish a storm-ready kit for each member of their household.

These items can be easily stored in a bucket, backpack or small suitcase. You will want to store the kit in the room you have designated as a “safe room,” whether it is in the basement or a center room of the home.

Items to include in your storm-ready kit include: flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit, canned food and water (the individual serving sizes work great for those with different tastes), weather radio, paper towels, soap, pain reliever, prescription drugs, next-of-kin emergency contact numbers, gloves, trash bags and water.

Remember to refresh your kit every time you change your clocks and also change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Jennifer Howard is the county extension agent for family and consumer sciences. For more information on emergency preparedness, contact the Clark County Extension Service at 744-4682.