Make family preparedness a goal for the New Year!

Ideas for unique and useful gifts this holiday season. 

WREG holds Coats for Kids Drive through November 21st. 

Sprint, hop, walk, skip. However you get there, get to the third annual Stars & Stripes 5K benefiting Ready Shelby this Thursday, July 3. The race kicks off at 7p.m. at Liberty Bowl Stadium on Tiger Lane and winds through a scenic route through Midtown. And be sure to follow these tips to stay safe while exercising outdoors in the summer.

Let’s face it—after a long and incredibly harsh winter, almost everyone in Shelby County is beyond ready for spring, and the amount of pollen in the air is a sign that it is finally upon us. With spring, however, comes the dreaded season of severe weather and tornado warnings. What exactly should Shelby County be expecting from the weather this spring? Ready Shelby has reviewed the forecasts and is here to give you a preview of what Mother Nature has in store.

You’ve heard it a million times—keep batteries around the house in case of emergency. If you need a flashlight in a pinch, or you are using a weather radio in your bathroom while waiting out a tornado, or your power goes out, you’re going to need batteries. But just like any other supply, batteries take special care; and, after a while, they need to be replaced. 

It’s not necessary to be an epicurean in an emergency … but you do need to be prepared. People will often remember to have first aid supplies, flashlights, radios, batteries and other items on hand, but they will fail to be prepared in one of the most important areas of survival: nourishment.

Whether you vigilantly make New Year's resolutions every year or not, most everyone finds themselves taking time to reflect on life with the arrival of a new year. So as you ponder your potential in 2014, we encourage you to take up one particular "to do" for the new year that is a real lifesaver: Plan your emergency preparedness kit.