09/06/2024
National Preparedness Month
“Start a Conversation”
The origin of National Preparedness Month traces back to those tragic events of
September 11, 2001. Following these events, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) recognized the critical need for increased emergency preparedness.
FEMA then collaborated with various partners to launch the National Preparedness
Month campaign in 2004. In 2006 FEMA and the Ad Council developed the “Ready”
campaign. Since then NPM has worked at educating and motivating Americans to
prepare for emergencies.
The goal of NPM is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and
communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, and
school. This is a perfect time for all employees and their families to make an
emergency plan, build an emergency kit, and be prepared for any potential
emergency situations. One can start with these simple steps:
Set aside a time when everyone is calm and relaxed.
It may help to hold the discussions over a set time period, so decisions aren’t
rushed, and people feel more comfortable talking about the topic.
Talk about steps you’ve taken to prepare and encourage others to ask questions
about preparedness actions that might work for them.
As part of preparation everyone should take time to learn lifesaving skills such as
CPR and first aid. You should also become familiar with your insurance policies and
ensure you have proper coverage for the hazards that you may face, such as flood,
earthquakes, and tornadoes. Additionally, know how to take practical safety steps,
like shutting off water and gas to your residence.
Technology disruptions, the pandemic, hurricanes, and wildfires are only a few of
the disasters that have impacted our nation recently. All these events remind us of
the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters. Often, we will be the
first ones in our communities to act after a disaster strikes and before first
responders arrive, so it is important to prepare in advance to help yourself and your
community.
Visit Ready.Gov for more information on how to make a plan, build a kit,
get involved, sign up for emergency alerts, 3 and much more.
