With the potential for snow in the Eugene-Springfield area Tuesday, the Eugene Water and Electric Board wants to help residents to get prepared for the coming weather as well as any events in the future.

EWEB's Pledge to Prepare program was launched last year, as a 12-month program for emergency preparedness. More than 1,600 people took the pledge in 2019. Now, EWEB hopes to grow the program by relaunching it in 2020.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared to be on their own for a minimum of two weeks following a disaster. That means storing 14 days of water, food, medicine and other supplies. For many, this may feel like a daunting task, but EWEB’s program can help make the process more manageable.

When a resident takes the EWEB pledge, they will receive a monthly email containing "easy, step-by-step recommendations that will help you get two-weeks ready by year-end," EWEB said. "The idea is to start small with a basic three-day kit and then build it slowly overtime."

In the meantime, to prepare for the winter weather expected this week that could bring power outages, Connors said she recommends residents make sure they have basic supplies to be self-sufficient for at least three days. That means:

• Three gallons of water per person in the household;

• Non-perishable and easy to prepare food;

• A way to heat food such as a camp stove;

• Flashlights with fresh batteries;

• Ready-to-burn wood on-hand, for those with a fireplace or wood stove;

• Phones should be fully charged, and maybe have some charged back-up batteries;

• Fill the car with gas;

• Have some cash on hand, in case there is no power to process credit or ATM cards

• Plan for any special medical needs in case the power goes out or you can’t get to the pharmacy.

Some 160 people sent in photos last year of the supplies they assembled based on the program's monthly recommendations. January's recommendations include a plastic tote or duffel bag, three days of food, water and cash, a hand-operated can opener and two flashlights with batteries, according to EWEB's website.

"Folks that stick with the program will progress to higher levels of preparedness that will help them be self-sufficient and resilient in larger-scale emergencies such as a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake," EWEB spokesperson Jennifer Connors said. "By following the recommended steps over the 12 months, participants will develop a family emergency plan, learn how to prepare their financial and other records, mitigate damage to their homes, and prepare together with neighbors."

To join the Pledge to Prepare and get started on your two-week emergency kit, visit eweb.org/pledge.