Release Number: HQ-09-115

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As September comes to an end, so does the 6th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), but FEMA continues efforts to ensure every American is prepared. NPM, sponsored by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, in conjunction with FEMA, is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for potential emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. This year's NPM was kicked off by Secretary Napolitano and local leaders in New York City, as they unveiled new Ready Campaign public service advertising (PSAs). More than 2,670 organizations joined the NPM Coalition and committed to promoting emergency preparedness during September by holding events and encouraging the public to get a plan, get a kit and stay informed. This campaign also reached out to more than 18,000 in the business community, more than 500 rooms, over 2,400 Citizen Corps Councils, over 3,350 Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), 32 Citizen Corps partners and affiliates, and an immeasurable number of concerned citizens of all backgrounds across the nation.

"National Preparedness Month may be coming to an end, but the need for the public to be prepared continues," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "We appreciate all the effort that went into making this month a success, but the fact remains, emergencies can happen any time and any where. The public is an essential member of our emergency management team and their preparedness is critical to our success. If you, your family, your friends, or your neighbors still haven't prepared, please log on to Ready.gov to learn how."

NPM concluded with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, delivering a personal preparedness speech at the American Red Cross to volunteers. Please view the Secretary's speech at: www.dhs.gov/journal/theblog/2009/09/prepare-yourselffor-this-video.html.

A Sampling of the 6th Annual National Preparedness Month Activities Included:

• DHS/FEMA distributed a joint press release on National Preparedness.
• President Obama, the U.S. Army, 26 states and countless counties and cities issued proclamations urging all Americans to take time to prepare an emergency supply kit and a family emergency plan, and to educate themselves about potential disasters by asking Americans to work within their own communities to coordinate emergency preparedness efforts.
• The Ready Campaign launched new PSAs targeted to the general public. The new television, radio, outdoor and Web PSAs demonstrate the metaphor that a disaster can turn your world and your family's life "upside down," to encourage Americans to prepare and direct audiences to visit www.ready.gov where they can find tools and resources to prepare. Those PSAs can be found at www.ready.gov/america/about/psa.html.
• The national Ready ads were localized for a number cities, including Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Chicago, Eugene, Ore., Houston, Kansas City, Mo., Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco-as well as the states of Utah and Virginia and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Secretary Janet Napolitano and Girl Scouts of the USA unveiled a Girl Scout Emergency Preparedness Patch-designed to engage Girl Scouts and their families in personal preparedness for all emergencies-and announced a new affiliation between Citizen Corps and the Girl Scouts to advance community preparedness nationwide.
• FEMA Administrator distributed preparedness messages in writing and by video to all FEMA employees.
• The DHS Secretary, the FEMA Administrator and Regional Administrators conducted a series of media interviews around the country promoting the preparedness message.
• Administrator Fugate participated in a conference call with more than 275 community leaders from across the country to talk about personal and community preparedness.
• Administrator Fugate used NPM as an opportunity to launch his new twitter account, twitter.com/craigatfema, and reinforced the need for the public to be prepared.
• In order to promote federal workforce preparedness in the National Capital Region (NCR), the FEMA Office of National Capital Region Coordination (NCRC) sponsored NPM Road Shows where staff distributed materials at 26 preparedness fairs throughout the NCR.

Regional National Preparedness Month Activities Included:

• Secretary Janet Napolitano threw out the first pitch at the New York Yankees home game.
• On September 5, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate attended the University of Florida home opening football game, where the Ready PSAs played on the jumbo screen.
• Temple University held their 4th Annual University Emergency Preparedness Fair to promote safety awareness and emergency preparedness for colleges and universities. FEMA's Region III office and Administrator Fugate were among the active participants.
• Regional Administrators met with state partners and attended regional fairs, conferences, and meetings to promote personal preparedness and discuss how they can work better together.
• FEMA signed a memorandum of understanding with Hawaii Civil Defense to better prepare for catastrophic emergencies impacting the islands.
• FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, AL, participated in "Alabama Be Ready Day' to promote their training against hazardous events.
• FEMA's Regional Administrator in Seattle, WA, participated in "Serve Washington Summit" on the campus of the University of Washington and spread the personal preparedness message.
• FEMA's Community Emergency Response Teams distributed preparedness materials and bottled water while Ready personal preparedness public service announcements were shown on the jumbo screen at the University of Arkansas football game on September 5.
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management also held preparedness nights at the local Minor League Baseball stadium to promote NPM. A group of ADEM employees stood at the gates at Dickey-Stevens Park in North Little Rock distributing brochures containing information on how to put together a family disaster kit. September 04was the first round of the Texas League AA/Minor League Baseball playoffs between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals) and the Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angles) and September 10 was the Texas League Championship. Three of the Ready Campaign's video PSAs were played during the games.
• The State of Delaware hosted a Family Emergency Preparedness Day with trainings on disaster preparedness, emergency kits, and animals in disasters.
• In Okl type="> text/javascript"> ahoma, September 26-27 was designated as Be Ready Sunday/Weekend for churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations to promote awareness and preparedness. Be Ready information cards were developed by the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and distributed by faith congregations and other community organizations.
• Washington State held a statewide earthquake drill on September 16 for schools, homes, and businesses.

Youth Preparedness

• The Ready Campaign in conjunction with Discovery Education and the Ad Council hosted a webinar on H1N1 for schools across the country. The webinar included speakers from the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Education who talked with teachers and their students on the science behind the flu, the importance of preparing, and the types of precautions that could help protect them. More than 500 rooms from across the world participated.
• Ready Colorado teamed up with Radio Disney to help teachers and students prepare for emergency situations. The Denver Urban Area Security Initiative provided supplies for emergency kits each room at Elbert Elementary School in Elbert, CO.
• Ready Georgia is inviting 5th graders across Georgia to write an essay or create a piece of artwork with the theme, "Get Ready Georgia." Students can win prizes and will also have their entry featured on the Ready Georgia Web site.

Business- Private Sector Preparedness

• Private Sector Preparedness Weekly Tips were distributed to18,000 + email subscribers as well as over 8,000 users on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
• FEMA's Chief of Staff delivered remarks on business preparedness to U.S. Chamber of Commerce's National Security Task Force.
• FEMA posted a short video on www.fema.gov/privatesector including interviews with the private sector and the Administrator on the importance of the public and private sectors working together to prepare for and respond to disasters.
• FEMA's Private Sector Division spoke on employee preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute's Employee Preparedness Day.

For more information on the Ready Campaign and NPM, please visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.