"National Preparedness Month will give everyone an opportunity to work toward a better-prepared America," said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "This broad coalition and vast number of activities and events will allow us to reach millions of individuals and inform them about ways they can prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools."
State and territorial activities range from preparedness booths at the state capitol or state fairs, to proclamations and town hall meetings on preparedness issues to statewide public service announcements and emergency training.
- The Department of Homeland Security's National Preparedness Month activities will include initiatives related to the Ready campaign as well as events hosted by Citizen Corps. In September, DHS will build on its Ready campaign, a national public education effort launched in 2003 in partnership with the Ad Council. The campaign is designed to educate and empower individuals to prepare for emergencies by getting a kit, making a family communications plan and being informed about potential threats. Ready for Business will be launched to educate small- and medium-sized businesses about safeguarding their employees and assets while preparing for business continuity in the event of a disaster. In addition, Citizen Corps, the department's community-based organization that encourages Americans to volunteer to make their communities safer and better prepared for emergencies, will organize events through its 1,400 state and local councils across the country.
- The American Red Cross has organized an event called Together We Prepare Saturday on Sept. 18 with its chapters nationwide. Chapters are encouraged to sponsor events in their communities such as first aid trainings and preparedness fairs. The organization's Web site, www.redcross.org will also launch an online store in September with new pre-packaged products to compliment the wide range of preparedness resources.
- The America Prepared Campaign has galvanized the private sector in support of National Preparedness Month by providing preparedness information and tools at some of the nation's largest retailers, including Home Depot, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's Club. The campaign has also developed public service announcements to raise awareness about the importance of preparedness and will distribute these starting in September through broadcast, print and outdoor vehicles. In addition, the organization has sponsored two contests to encourage individuals to get prepared, a short film contest judged by Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and a cash-prize contest for the school that gets the most families prepared.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is helping get the business community prepared. The chamber will distribute emergency preparedness information to its employees nationwide and encourage its members, which include businesses, state and local chambers of commerce, and trade and professional associations, to do the same. In addition, the organization will join with Homeland Security to launch Ready for Business and encourage all businesses to take practical steps to prepare for any possible emergency.
- The National Association of Broadcasters has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to create "Are You Ready?," a step-by-step emergency preparedness guidebook for local broadcasters. The guide provides detailed instructions about how broadcasters can prepare their stations for emergencies and get involved in promoting preparedness in their communities.
- The Public Discourse Project (formerly the 9/11 Commission) will continue to make emergency preparedness a priority. Its members will work to educate the private sector that preparedness for rescue, restart and recovery of operations should include a plan for evacuation, adequate communications capabilities and a plan for continuity of operations, as outlined in the commission's report.
While events will be held across the country throughout the month, all National Preparedness Month partner organizations will join together for a launch on Capitol Hill on Sept. 9 in Washington, DC. The event, co-chaired by Senators Susan Collins (R, Maine) and Joseph Lieberman (D, Ct.) and Representatives Christopher Cox (R, Calif.) and Jane Harman (D, Calif.), will be held on the grounds of the United States Capitol at 11:00 a.m.
