HOUSTON — Disaster preparedness doesn’t have to begin with a $500 shopping trip.

Instead, it can start with something as simple as adding one extra affordable canned good to your grocery cart each time you shop.

That practical advice was one of the biggest takeaways from Houston Community Media’s recent disaster preparedness briefing, where emergency managers and nonprofit leaders encouraged families to prepare gradually for hurricanes, flooding, extreme heat and other emergencies rather than waiting until a storm is approaching. The discussion focused on practical, affordable steps residents can take now to better protect themselves and their families before disaster strikes.

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Bryan Murray, deputy director and public information officer for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, acknowledged that building a complete emergency kit all at once can be financially out of reach for many families.

“If I gave you our preparedness list and said go buy all this, it’s probably about $500,” Murray said. “Let’s be smart. Buy an extra can of green beans and an extra can of tuna every time you go to the grocery store. So you’re adding maybe $2 to your grocery bill, but over time you’re building that up.”

He offered the same advice for bottled water, suggesting families purchase a case every other week.

“You can build it up gradually,” Murray said. “It makes much more sense from a budget standpoint for most people, but it still gets you to the point where you’ve got some readiness built into your family’s routine and your budget.”

The advice reinforced a theme that surfaced throughout the discussion: preparedness is not something residents should postpone until a hurricane enters the Gulf.

“Stop thinking of preparedness as something that we do for six months of the year,” Murray said. “If you’re going to live in Harris County, Texas, or the Gulf Coast, this is something we do 12 months a year. It’s a continuous process.”

Panelists also encouraged residents to prepare in ways that don’t cost money, including reviewing insurance coverage before disaster strikes, creating a family emergency plan, signing up for ReadyHarris emergency alerts, knowing evacuation routes and becoming familiar with local resources such as United Way’s 211 helpline and multilingual preparedness guides.

Brooke Campbell, director of community outreach and disaster recovery at United Way of Greater Houston and co-director of the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, reminded attendees that families don’t have to navigate emergencies alone. She encouraged residents to learn about local disaster resources before they are needed and noted that nonprofit organizations across the region host preparedness workshops and distribute emergency supply kits throughout the year.

Kara Cooke-Schultz, director of disaster recovery and community resilience at the Greater Houston Community Foundation and co-director of the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, encouraged residents to think beyond their own households by checking on neighbors, older adults and others who may need extra assistance during emergencies. She urged families to register loved ones with access and functional needs through the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry so emergency officials can better identify and assist vulnerable residents during disasters. She also noted that anyone needing help with the registration process can call 211 for assistance.

The panel’s message was simple: disaster preparedness is about making small, consistent decisions throughout the year that leave families better equipped when the next emergency arrives. Whether it’s adding an extra item to the grocery cart, reviewing an insurance policy, signing up for emergency alerts or checking on a neighbor, the experts agreed that the best time to prepare is long before severe weather appears in the forecast.