The North Carolina Emergency Management Division (NCEM) has introduced a new campaign, “Prep A Little, Save A Lot,” aimed at helping residents of North Carolina prepare emergency kits without straining their finances. This initiative will run throughout July and August 2025, encouraging residents to gradually accumulate emergency supplies, making preparedness shopping more accessible for families.
The “Prep A Little, Save A Lot” campaign addresses a common barrier in emergency preparation: the perceived high cost of supplies and the overwhelming task of purchasing them all at once. By urging people to buy only a few items each week along with their regular shopping, NCEM aims to show that a well-stocked emergency kit is within everyone’s reach.
“We understand that the idea of assembling a complete emergency kit can seem intimidating, especially when facing budget constraints,” said NCEM Director Will Ray. “Our campaign ‘Prep A Little, Save A Lot’ is about breaking down that large task into smaller, more affordable steps; it’s about empowering our communities, one item at a time, to be ready and face any challenge that comes to North Carolina.”
Key components of the campaign include:
Weekly Focus Themes: Each week during July and August, the campaign will highlight different categories of essential emergency supplies. These categories cover hydration, food, lighting, communication, health, hygiene, specific family needs (including pets), shelters/refuges, and maintenance of kits.
Engaging Social Media Content: NCEM will share videos, tips, lists, and educational messages on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X using hashtags like #ReadyNC #PrepALittleSaveALot and #EmergencyKit.
Residents are encouraged to visit ReadyNC.gov during July and August to download weekly lists access preparation guides and find additional resources supporting their efforts in building emergency kits.
“Preparation is not about instilling fear; rather it’s about encouraging calmness,” added Ray. “By taking small consistent steps over the next two months North Carolinians can build resilient emergency kits which will protect their families when it matters most. We invite everyone to join our ‘Prep A Little Save A Lot’ challenge.”
Visit the campaign’s portal for more information.
