By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The city of Philadelphia’s Emergency Management Office is staging the first of a year-long series of community seminars tonight in South Philadelphia.

Joan Przybylowicz, a spokesman for the agency, says the Family Emergency Preparedness workshop is set for tonight at 6 at the Holiday Inn at 10th and Packer.

She says the goal of the one-hour session is to give residents information on the kinds of emergencies they could face and how to get ready for them, especially if they have to stay where they are.

“You’ll learn how to develop a family or household emergency plan, we’ll have a template that you can take home and complete. It’s a real easy plan to fill out. And, you’ll learn what types of emergency supplies that you should have on hand in your house if you need to, say, what we call, shelter in place.”

Pryzybylowicz says similar seminars are being scheduled for other neighborhoods across the city. You can learn more by going to http://oem.readyphiladelphia.org/Calendar