Resolve To Be Ready In 2005
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
For Immediate Release
December 22, 2004
Nearly half of all American adults make one or more New Year’s resolutions every year, including quitting smoking, losing weight or committing to an exercise program. Unfortunately, many Americans have difficulty keeping their resolution due to lack of time or motivation. This year, as part of its successful Ready campaign, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is encouraging citizens to make a New Year’s resolution that is easy to keep – creating their own family emergency plan. It can benefit not only the person who makes the resolution, but also his or her entire family.
"The start of a new year is a time when many Americans are inclined to think about ways to make improvements for the future," said Secretary Tom Ridge. "Creating a family emergency plan is a great place to start. Families can create a plan that will allow them to know how best to communicate with one another in the event of an emergency. Log-on to Ready.gov and look for the 'Resolve to be Ready' icon. There, you can learn more about emergency preparedness and download a free family emergency plan template to help you get started. You and your family will be glad you did."
Last month, Homeland Security and the Ad Council unveiled the new Ready campaign public service advertisements (PSAs). The PSAs, which have begun running, are designed to encourage people to develop a family emergency plan in case of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other emergency. The new television and radio advertisements feature children questioning parents about what to do during an emergency and are the second series of advertisements for the Ready campaign.
Launched in February 2003 by Homeland Security and the Ad Council, the Ready campaign is designed to educate and empower individuals to prepare for and respond to potential terrorist attacks and other emergencies. The goal of the campaign is to get Americans involved and, ultimately, to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation. Since its launch, more than 210 million people have seen or read about Ready and its website has received over 1.8 billion hits. Individuals interested in receiving a "Get Ready Now" brochure may call 1-800-BE-READY or visit Ready.gov for more information.
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