DHS to Sponsor National Preparedness Month

According to the department, this year’s effort has a growing coalition of more than 625 national, regional, state and local organizations pledging support.

“It is vital that Americans take steps to prepare for emergencies at home, work or school,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. “Personal preparedness is paramount to effectively reacting to the effects of a disaster. By preparing yourself, your family and your businesses, you allow first responders to prioritize efforts and aid.”

For the first time, National Preparedness Month will focus on different areas of emergency preparedness. Those areas are:

• Back-to-school (Sept. 1-8).
  
• Business preparedness (Sept. 9-15).
  
• Multicultural preparedness (Sept. 16-22).
  
• Home and family preparedness, including pets, older Americans and individuals with disabilities and special needs (Sept. 23-30).

Homeland Security Committee members Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Peter King, R-N.Y., have agreed to serve as honorary congressional co-chairs of National Preparedness Month 2007 and lead the effort to increase public awareness on the importance of emergency preparedness on Capitol Hill.

National Preparedness Month coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public- and private-sector organizations.

Groups can register to become National Preparedness Month coalition members by visiting http://www.ready.gov and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner.