Opinion: Maine needs to be standing ready for the next big storm

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 22, 2026

From working waterfronts to inland towns, storms are not distant possibilities. They are part of life. This year’s National Preparedness Month theme is Americans Stand Ready. This September, take one concrete step. Make the plan. Sign up for alerts. Check the batteries. Set aside supplies for your family and pets. Call a neighbor. Visit Ready.gov/stand-ready for free tools and checklists. The next storm will not wait for us to get ready. We should not wait for it. ~ Pete Rogers, director, Maine Emergency Management Agency; Jarrett W. Devine, acting regional administrator of FEMA Region 1