September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM).  This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  FEMA, Citizen Corps and the Ad Council are launching this year’s campaign using the slogan “A Time to Remember; A Time to Prepare.”

States, individuals, and groups can register now to become NPM coalition members by visiting community.fema.gov.  ASDWA encourages state drinking water programs to share this opportunity with your water systems.  Once registered, members have access to a tool kit that includes suggestions for activities and events, templates, articles, banners and customizable materials.  Coalition members also have access to an events calendar allowing them to post and promote preparedness events, share success stories, and participate in national and regional discussion forums to engage with fellow coalition members and FEMA representatives.

The campaign seeks to transform 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.  “As we move forward with planning for this year’s events and activities, we also recognize that this September marks the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “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.”

By hosting events, promoting volunteer programs and sharing emergency preparedness information, coalition members can help ensure that their communities are prepared for emergencies.  Becoming a coalition member is easy and free, so register now to get started.  Nearly 2,000 coalition members have already joined this year’s campaign.