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| This Citizen Corps News Digest is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners. |
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As we officially kick of National Preparedness Month, President Obama has proclaimed September to be National Preparedness Month .
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH, 2012
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
As thousands of our fellow Americans respond to and recover from the damage done by Hurricane Isaac, we are called to remember that throughout our history, emergencies and natural disasters have tested the fabric of our country. During National Preparedness Month, we renew our commitment to promoting emergency preparedness in homes, businesses, and communities nationwide, and to building an America more ready and resilient than ever before.
Each of us has an important role to play in bolstering our preparedness for disasters of all types -- from cyber incidents and acts of terrorism to tornadoes and flooding. That is why my Administration is pursuing an approach to emergency management that engages the whole community -- from Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to the private sector, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and the general public. I encourage all Americans to visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov to learn more about the risks facing their communities, find out what they can do to prepare, and join thousands of individuals from coast to coast by becoming a member of the National Preparedness Coalition. Individuals and families can also take action by building a disaster supply kit with food, water, and essential supplies in case of emergency, and by developing and sharing an emergency plan with their loved ones.
As cities and towns across our country recover from natural disasters that have spanned historic drought to devastating wildfires and storms, we are reminded of the spirit of resilience that binds us together as one people and as one American family. This month, let us honor that spirit by standing with all those affected by recent severe weather, as well as past disasters, and by taking the steps we can to protect our loved ones and our communities before disaster strikes.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2012 as National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and observe this month by working together to enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at citizencorps@dhs.gov |
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DHS -FEMA Updates
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Welcome to National Preparedness Month!
On Friday, August 31, President Obama signed a proclamation designating September as National Preparedness Month ( NPM). NPM is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Ad Council. The campaign is a nationwide effort encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. In partnership with federal, state, local and private sector organizations, NPM is a time to elevate the importance of preparedness and to encourage individuals, communities and businesses to take the steps to protect themselves and those they care about during hazardous events.
The 2012 theme– Pledge to Prepare – asks individuals, families and organizations to make a commitment and to take an action to prepare.
Start today by:
National Preparedness Month is supported by a coalition of public, private and non-profit organizations working to help spread the preparedness message. The National Preparedness Coalition is the nation's largest public online forum organized to improve our nation's resilience against all-hazards. It is comprised of individuals engaged in preparedness – and those who want to be engaged in preparedness – who are committed to strengthening, sustaining and enhancing the resilience of their communities. To become an NPM Coalition Member and find preparedness events that may be taking place near you, visit: http://community.fema.gov . Get started today!
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Be Ready Using Disaster Preparedness Apps, Texts and Technology!
Today's technology makes it even easier to stay prepared before, during and after a disaster or emergency event. Download these apps and resources today to ensure you stay prepared during the next emergency or disaster event!
- Download the FEMA App to access disaster preparedness tips, build a personal emergency kit and look for open Disaster Recovery Centers along with open shelters (if you're a disaster survivor).
- Local emergency management officials often have notification systems. Opt-In to a distribution for your community. To find out if your community offers such services, contact your local office of Emergency Management .
- Signup to receive a monthly preparedness tip from FEMA's text messages program .
- Bookmark important mobile sites:
American Red Cross : www.redcross.org/mobile
Center for Diseases Control : m.cdc.gov
FEMA/Ready: m.fema.gov
National Hurricane Center : www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile
- Follow FEMA and Ready on line:
FEMA Blog
Administrator Craig Fugate on Twitter
FEMA on Twitter / Ready on Twitter
FEMA on Facebook
FEMA on YouTube
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Preparedness Planning and Taking Action
Being informed of your local hazards and how to respond to them is the first step in becoming more prepared. Making a plan, building a kit and getting involved are further actions to take to strengthen your family's resilience to any disaster or emergency event.
Be Informed : Learn about potential emergencies which may occur in your local community and the ways to respond to each. Do you live near a flood plain, an earthquake fault line or in a high fire danger area? Does your neighborhood or community have a disaster plan? Being aware of your area's disaster risk and how to prepare and respond to it will increase your likelihood of staying safe.
Make a Plan : Learn how to create a Family Communications Plan or Personal Emergency Plan in case you and your loved ones are not together during a disaster or become separated during an emergency event.
Build a Kit : Review information about basic emergency kits and how to personalize them with required medications, an emergency medical contact card, first aid supplies, extra food, water, etc. A checklist for items to consider as part of this basic kit is also available.
Get Involved : Whether at work or at home, learn how you can be a part of a volunteer network before, during and after any disaster event by contacting your local Citizen Corps Council or signing up to receive preparedness training and becoming a part of your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) . Training is a great way to get involved – take part in FEMA's FREE online training course: IS-909 – Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone or complete the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) online training course, VIPS and Disaster Response , which explores how volunteers can help build law enforcement's capacity to respond to natural disasters, public health crises and other emergencies.
Remember, preparedness is a shared responsibility and Ready.gov has activities for everyone! Do your part to make your family and community safer and more resilient.
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Our Nation's Youth and the Impact they have on Preparedness
Children comprise approximately 25 percent of our nation's population and are the future of our communities. They play an important role in disaster preparedness and each have the unique ability to help their communities be safer, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster or emergency event. As such, we all have a vested interest in engaging and empowering youth to become active participants in individual, family and community preparedness. Research states that:
- Youth who are trained in preparedness are more resilient in actual disasters.
- Youth are highly effective messengers for reaching and influencing parents and other adults.
- Youth who are engaged today will ensure a future generation of prepared adults.
Youth preparedness is a priority at FEMA and is why the agency recently introduced the first ever Youth Preparedness Council . This select group of youth leaders from across the country will lend their voices, opinions, experiences, ideas and solutions to help strengthen the nation's resiliency for all types of disasters. Bring youth preparedness to the forefront of your community by implementing a youth preparedness program . Much like FEMA, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) recognizes the importance of engaging youth in preparedness and for the past two summers has held a summer camp for youth focusing on Teen CERT training, youth emergency preparedness, leadership and action planning. What is your area doing with youth preparedness? Share your story and/or ideas on the NPM Coalition Website today!
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