This September, which is National Preparedness Month, comes after a challenging year and a shocking number of extreme weather events.

FEMA disaster preparedness instructor, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, and founder of PrepareWithCher.com, Cheryl Nelson, joined Studio 512 to share some tips and products to help people get ready for an emergency.

Why is being prepared more important than ever?

“As a FEMA instructor, I train first responders who are busier than ever with natural disasters. The next climate change disaster is going to occur sooner rather than later, so you got to be prepared.”

What is one of the first things to consider when creating a disaster plan?

“In the event that you need a place to stay, Hawthorne Extended Stay by Wyndham is a great choice. They have locations across the country and all the amenities you need. They are running a great Wyndham Rewards Program right now, where you can save 15% when you stay two nights or more.”

When planning for the unexpected, what is a must-have to be prepared?

“You want to have a dependable source of backup power, and I love Schumacher, which has been powering lifestyles since 1947. Their industry leading power conversion products are affordable and will keep you prepared for any situation. I recommend the SL 1612 Rugged Lithium Jumpstarter and USB Power Source. It’s battery is powerful enough to jumpstart a car 47 times on a single charge.”

What tools should we have ready for clean up?

“Husqvarna makes innovative forest, lawn and garden products to help you clean up. The 455 Rancher Chainsaw is versatile, fuel-efficient, and a better choice for the environment.”

Are there any innovative technologies for weathering an emergency?

“Savant Power Storage delivers the ability use stored electricity during power outages, making smart energy accessible to everyone. With the award-winning Savant app, you can monitor and control consumption in real time.”

For more information, visit TipsOnTV.com.

This segment is paid for by Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham, Schumacher Electric, Husqvarna, Savant Power and is intended as an advertisement. Opinions expressed by the guest(s) on this program are solely those of the guest(s) and are not endorsed by this television station.