Natalie Marr wants families to be prepared this winter.

As a Girl Scout, the Mercer Island High School senior has learned the value of being prepared for the unexpected, especially after the storms last winter and in 2007. This year, Marr is working on making sure that people on the Island are ready for anything by making emergency preparedness the focus of her culminating project.

“After the winter storms of 2007 and, more recently, last year’s heavy snowfall, I realized that my family was not prepared,” said Marr. “If QFC had not been right around the corner from my house, it would have been a tough week for my family. My situation made me think about other families on the Island, especially low-income families, and how they coped with the difficult circumstances.”

For the last two weeks, Marr has been holding an emergency preparedness supply drive, which started Nov. 23 and runs until Friday, Dec. 4. By collecting mylar blankets, travel-sized first-aid kits, D batteries, flashlight and other necessities, Marr will create basic emergency kits for low-income families on Mercer Island and in Seattle.

“My goal is to assemble at least 100 kits,” she said. “The kits will then be distributed through Mercer Island Youth & Family Services and the Red Cross.”

Donation boxes can be found at the Mercer View Community Center, City Hall and the North-end fire department. For further information, Marr can be contacted via e-mail at miemergencysupplies@gmail.com.