Emergency Management

A Time to Remember, a Time to Prepare: September is National Preparedness Month

Sept. 13, 2011

This September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is supporting the eighth annual National Preparedness Month to raise awareness and help individuals, communities and businesses prepare for disasters.

Laura Walter

“This year we recognize that September marks the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Last week's earthquake and Hurricane Irene, along with the deadly tornadoes and flooding this spring, are all important reminders that disasters can happen anytime, anywhere. By doing what we can to ensure that our communities, and our nation, are prepared to respond and recover from all types of disasters and hazards, we honor the memory of those who were lost that day.”

National Preparedness Month is led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. This year’s campaign theme, “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare,” seeks to turn awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

This year, FEMA, the American Red Cross, the Ad Council and Google Crisis Response collaborated to launch a new preparedness Web resource called Get Tech Ready. This resource educates individuals and families about how using modern-day technology can help them prepare, adapt and recover from disruptions brought on by emergencies or disasters.

Visit http://www.ready.gov or call the toll-free number 1-800-BE-READY for free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.