By Jennifer Arguinzoni

September is National Preparedness Month, a time during which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with state and local organizations and communities to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness.

This year’s theme is, “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.” Communities are being encouraged to take action by participating in America’s PrepareAthon! on or around Sept. 30. America’s PrepareAthon! is intended to take preparedness one step further by moving people from awareness to action.

National Preparedness Month

For more than a decade, FEMA’s Ready Campaign has raised awareness about the importance of knowing the four building blocks of emergency preparedness: Be informed, make a plan, build a kit and get involved.

Launched in February 2003, Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and manmade disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

FEMA has identified weekly themes for this year’s National Preparedness Month:

• Week 1 (Sept. 1-7): How to Reconnect with Family After a Disaster
• Week 2 (Sept.  8-14): Know How to Plan for Specific Needs before a Disaster.
  • Monday, 9/8: Youth and Children, and Colleges and Universities
  • Tuesday, 9/9: Tribal Audiences
  • Wednesday, 9/10: Business
  • Thursday, 9/11: First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS, Nurses, and Public Utility etc.)
  • Friday, 9/12: Organizations (Faith-based, voluntary and state/local/tribal)
  • Saturday, 9/13: Disabilities, Access & Functional Needs and Older Americans
  • Sunday, 9/14: Pets
• Week 3 (Sept. 15-21): How to Build an Emergency Kit
• Week 4 and 5 (Sept. 22-30): How to Practice for an Emergency.

America’s PrepareAthon!

America’s PrepareAthon! is a grassroots campaign for action intended to increase community preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises. FEMA is encouraging mayors and other local leaders to coordinate a community-wide action event on Sept. 30 for whatever hazard is most relevant. This could be an emergency drill or other preparedness activity.

Those communities that take preparedness actions and mention America’s PrepareAthon! in their communications about the event, are asked to register at the campaign website so their efforts will be recognized.

America’s PrepareAthon! has developed guidance for government officials and other members of the community as well as, downloadable and  customizable posters, banner ads, and other promotional materials.

FEMA has posted a pre-recorded webinar that explains National Preparedness Month and America’s PrepareAthon!  Members of NCSL can participate in the National Preparedness Month conversation by using #NatlPrep, follow America’s PrepareAthon! on Twitter @PrepareAthon and participate in the conversation by using #PrepareAthon.

Jennifer Arguinzoni is a senior policy specialist in NCSL’s Washington, D.C., office.

Email Jennifer