Be prepared. That's the Boy Scouts' motto and it is good advice for all of us, especially for people with limitations due to disability, frailty, or illness.

To see how prepared you are, measure your Readiness Quotient in a simple test prepared by the Red Cross. And then take the four steps recommended by the Department of Homeland Security to be ready for an emergency.

Prepare a kit: gather necessary items in one place for an emergency kit. At a minimum this should include supplies for three days: bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights and battery, first aid supplies. (See the website for more suggestions.)

Make a plan: know how to contact family members and others; make a list of telephone numbers and locations of work and school; anticipate what assistance family members will need and who will provide it.

Be informed: Know what plans have been made in your family and in your community. Alert public safety in advance about instances where special assistance may be requested.

Get involved: Be involved with your family, neighbors, and community in preparing for any time of emergency response. Contact emergency response agencies such as the fire department or the local council on aging.

To help public officials and disability and aging service agency personnel throughout the Greater North Shore be best prepared to address emergency situations involving frail and disabled persons, the Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore, of which North Shore Elder Services is a member, is sponsoring a full day conference, It’s Not If, It’s When: Community Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. The conference is occurring on Friday, September 19th at the Salem Waterfront Hotel. For more information, visit www.adrcgns.eventbrite.com

You don’t have to be a Boy Scout, but it you want to be ready for any unforeseen occurrence then you best be prepared.