Martinsburg, WVa.- Emergencies, natural or man-made, can happen at any time. The best way to prepare yourself, your family, and your home is to plan in advance. The Berkeley County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM) is offering a FREE Family Emergency Preparedness class on Tuesday, September 24th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00p.m. at the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department (BHVFD), 36 Danbury Ln, Martinsburg. Join members of the BCOEM as they share best practices and ideas to help you prepare for emergencies. Participants will learn where to get emergency notifications and reliable information, how to create a family communications plan, an emergency plan, an evacuation plan, how to put together an emergency supplies kit, and more. For additional information, call BCOEM at 304.263.1345. Emergency Management Coordinator Candace Schafer Horman said, "Being prepared to help yourself and your family during a crisis is very empowering and could be the difference between life and death if an emergency or disaster strikes."