Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at FEMA-prepare@fema.dhs.gov

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September is National Preparedness Month!

September is National Preparedness Month ! This year's theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

As you prepare for emergencies, think about fall weather threats. The National Weather Service's fall safety presentation offers tips on staying safe from all kinds of hazards.

Here's a week-by-week plan to help you prepare for any emergency this month and all year long:

September 1-4: Make A Plan : Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Update your plan based on COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

September 5-11: Build A Kit : Gather enough supplies to last for several days after a disaster for everyone in your home. Don't forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly.

September 12-18: Prepare for Disasters : Limit the impacts disasters have on you and your family. Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards; act fast if you receive a local warning or alert.

September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness : Talk to your kids about how to prepare for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.

To learn more about National Preparedness Month and the steps you can take to prepare all year long, visit https://www.ready.gov/september .

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CERT & Communities

Join the September 11 Day of Service

This September 11 marks 20 years since the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Each year, AmeriCorps helps commemorate 9/11 Day . The day salutes those who served the country and helps people find ways to engage in acts of service.

This year, thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds are expected to participate. Service projects range from disaster preparation activities and neighborhood cleanups, to food drives and home repairs. In many areas, volunteers plan to honor veterans, soldiers, or first responders by collecting donations, assembling care packages, and writing thank you letters.

The 9/11 Day website lets visitors search for volunteer activities in their area. You can filter your search by category, including such topics as emergency response, first aid, and food distribution.

FEMA also offers opportunities to get involved in the community through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. CERTs educate volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area. The program trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Read more...

Celebrate and Prepare during National Hispanic Heritage Month!

September's National Preparedness Month overlaps with Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15 each year. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. It began as a weeklong celebration in 1968, expanding to a month 20 years later.

For the first time, FEMA's Ready campaign is launching a series of public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage preparedness in the Hispanic Community. Look for the Ad Council's PSAs starting in mid-September, the peak of wildfire and hurricane seasons.

To help meet the needs of the country's growing Spanish-speaking population, FEMA has many resources translated into Spanish. Did you know portions of FEMA's website are also available in Spanish? Check it out at https://www.fema.gov/es . Read more…

Full Data for the 2020 National Household Survey has been Released on OpenFEMA

In September 2021, FEMA released the full results and data for the 2020 National Household Survey (NHS) for public use on OpenFEMA , making this the fourth year of complete data available (2017-2020). To facilitate equitable community disaster preparedness for stakeholders, FEMA has published the survey instrument used to field the data in both English and Spanish alongside the full results.

The NHS tracks progress in personal disaster preparedness through investigations of the American public's preparedness actions, attitudes, and motivations. FEMA has conducted the NHS annually since 2013 and has been publishing the full data since 2017. The 2021 survey was fielded in English and Spanish via landline and mobile telephone to a random sampling of approximately 5,000 adult respondents. The survey includes a national sample as well as hazard-specific questions asked to individuals who live in areas that are at risk for, or could be heavily impacted by, those hazards. These include earthquakes, extreme heat, floods, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, winter storms, and urban events (such as a terrorist attack).

With multiple years of data available, researchers and stakeholders have the opportunity to analyze trends through time and patterns in preparedness. FEMA encourages the use of our data for improving the effectiveness of your preparedness messaging, campaigns, and research. Read more...

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Financial Preparedness

Resources That Help Shore Up Your Financial Resilience

Did summer storms flood your house, or have you lost income during the pandemic? Planning ahead for these and other potential emergencies can help you bounce back financially. September's National Preparedness Month is a good time to plan how you can protect and manage your finances. FEMA has several free resources to help you get on the right track.

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) helps keep all your important documents at your fingertips. The EFFAK gives you a way to organize critical financial, medical, and household information. It includes checklists and forms to help you gather the documents you will need after a disaster or other emergencies.

The EFFAK is available in six languages — English, Spanish, simplified and traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. A large print edition is also available for download. You can also order a print copy of the EFFAK in multiple accessible formats for free with no shipping costs!

Another helpful tool is the two-page Be Prepared for a Financial Emergency information sheet, which includes tips to prepare before, during, and after a financial emergency. Read more...

Five Way to Financially Prepare for a Flood

You worked hard to care for your home and save for the future, but disasters can lead to unexpected financial emergencies. This National Preparedness Month, visit FloodSmart.gov and Ready.gov/financial-preparedness to protect the life you've built, no matter what comes your way.

Be prepared for floods and hurricanes before they hit — have a plan and know it before the storm comes. This hurricane season, make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plan . And if you have a business, make sure it has a continuity plan so it can stay up and running when disaster strikes.

Part of your plan should also focus on protecting your wallet in the event of flood damage. Here are some easy ways to build financial resilience:

Know your flood risk . Use NFIP's flood risk calculator to help fellow homeowners and renters better understand their flood risk. Remember, just one inch of flood water can cause up to $25,000 damage.
Consider an insurance checkup. If you are a current NFIP policyholder, now is a good time to make sure your policy is renewed. Remember, it typically takes 30 days for a new policy to go into effect.
Read more...

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Important Dates

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM)
September 6 : Labor Day
September 8: NPM Ready Games: Youth Wheel of Readiness (5–6 p.m. ET)
September 8 : Spontaneous Volunteers Lessons Learned in Argentina & Chile (1–2:30 pm ET)
September 9 : Remain Vigilant: The History of CISA and Resources to Keep you Safe (1–2 p.m. ET)
September 11 : Patriot Day and 20 th Anniversary of 9/11
September 15 is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 : NPM Ready Games: Preparedness Trivia (4–5 p.m. ET)
September 17 : FEMA Region 10 Webinar Series: Pets & Livestock Preparedness (1–2 p.m. ET)
September 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 : CERT Train-the-Trainer Virtual Courses (Noon–4 p.m. ET)
September 22 : Emergency Management Jeopardy (4–5 p.m. ET)
September 25 : National Family Health and Fitness Day
September 29: NPM Ready Games: CERT Feud (4–5 p.m. ET)