National Preparedness Month 2005 underway

More than 190 national organisations and all 56 states and territories have joined the US Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action this September as part of National Preparedness Month 2005. The National Preparedness Month Coalition will distribute emergency preparedness information, host events and sponsor activities across the country to encourage individuals to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.

"For almost 125 years, preparedness has been a natural part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross. In the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there could be no more important message than the need for Americans to get prepared for the next disaster. We are honored to join the Department of Homeland Security in this critical mission,” said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, chairman of the American Red Cross.

State and territory activities during the 2005 effort will range from distributing preparedness information at state fairs to issuing proclamations and holding town hall meetings on emergency preparedness. The more than 190 national coalition members will help reach millions of Americans via hundreds of events scheduled to take place throughout September. In addition to hosting events, organisations will share preparedness information with their members, customers, employees and communities through websites, newsletters and public service announcements.

National Preparedness Month will include:

* The Department of Homeland Security will support National Preparedness Month through the Ready campaign and Citizen Corps. Citizen Corps, the Department’s grassroots effort, will work with its more than 1,770 state and local councils and partners to promote community-based preparedness, outreach and training opportunities.

* The more than 900 American Red Cross field units will take preparedness messages to the local level with a variety of events and activities aimed at encouraging families to make and discuss their emergency communications plans. Public and private entities will come together and host blood drives. Outreach will be conducted where Americans live, learn and work including a mass dissemination on September 22 of communications plan templates and Red Cross safety tubes to commuters at major transit stations during evening rush hour in multiple states in the Northeast.

* The Boeing Company will provide preparedness information to its approximately 151,000 employees by posting articles on emergency preparedness topics including personal preparedness, pet preparedness and business preparedness on its intranet throughout September. The company will also be distributing information through a variety of avenues including company sponsored safety fairs.

* The State of Tennessee is undertaking a series of statewide initiatives including the Governor proclaiming September as Preparedness Month; releasing public service advertisements encouraging Tennesseans to prepare for emergencies; placing a preparedness message on the payroll slips of the State's 47,000 employees; and conducting Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training courses that will create approximately 25 new CERT programs statewide.

* In September, the National Organization on Disability's Emergency Preparedness Initiative will introduce a national outreach and awareness campaign, "Partners in Preparedness."  This campaign includes the distribution of a multiple informational pamphlets, including a newly announced four-part pamphlet series for disability-specific preparedness, and an instructional poster showcasing the integration of people with disabilities into emergency preparedness.

* The National Latino Peace Officers Association will distribute materials, including Homeland Security’s Listo brochures, to communities throughout the country at events, including Mexican Independence Day festivals, which draw more than 100,000 attendees annually, in Los Angeles and Houston on September 17.

•Date: 2nd September 2005 • Region: US • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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