Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work and in your community.

The H1N1 flu virus has been confirmed in Colorado and a little planning and common sense can help keep you healthy. Individuals with mild flu-like symptoms are encouraged to stay home. Those with fever or difficulty breathing should contact their healthcare provider.

As with any illness, frequent hand washing, covering a cough or sneezing into a tissue, and staying home when ill - especially if suffering from a fever - are ways to prevent the spread of the virus. Plan ahead and have groceries and medicines on hand in case you get sick, so you can avoid going to the store and exposing others to your illness.

The city of Aurora is working with state and local health officials to monitor the status of the H1N1 flu and will provide updates as needed. In the meantime, visit the Tri-county Health website at www.tchd.org or call 1-877-462-2911 for more information.

The H1N1 flu is a reminder that emergencies can strike quickly and without warning, and that we all need to be prepared. Aurora’s emergency plan includes strong internal and external communication strategies, with steps to ensure the safety of all city employees while maintaining essential services for the public.

Planning ahead will help us all to have the best possible response and to be more resilient in the face of an emergency.