September is National Preparedness Month

In September, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will sponsor the fourth annual National Preparedness Month to increase public awareness of the need for emergency planning. Individuals and organizations, including many local emergency management agencies, in the National Preparedness Month coalition will participate in events that aim to increase communities’ readiness for disasters.

Each week of the month will have a different focus. The theme for Sept. 1-8 will be “Back-to-School,” with a focus on preparing children. Sept. 9-15 the focus will be on businesses, then multicultural preparedness from Sept. 16-22, concluding with home and family preparedness, including pets and people with disabilities, from Sept. 23-30.

More information on National Preparedness Month, including instructions on joining the coalition, are available at www.ready.gov.