On February 19, 2003, Secretary Tom Ridge, Department of Homeland Security, launched a national public awareness campaign to educate citizens about preparing for and responding to potential future terrorism attacks. The campaign focuses on three basic steps everyone should take right now: make a kit; make a plan; be informed.

The department launched a new website, www.ready.gov, toll free phone number, 1-800-BE-READY, and media campaign. This web site contains information on the best ways to protect yourself and your family against terrorism and potential incidents involving chemical/biological agents, explosions, nuclear blasts, and radiation threats. The web site also includes an 11-page readiness pamphlet summarizing these steps that you can read online or print from your computer. If you prefer a hard copy, you can order one by calling 1-800-BE-READY.

The “Be Ready” campaign underscores the importance of being prepared and the responsibilities all Americans have to take action now to be ready for any form of terrorism. The web site and print material offer a quick and easy way to get yourself and your family informed about the threats and how to start taking some steps to get yourselves ready.

To support this effort, local Citizen Corps Councils will bring together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency management, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to help them coordinate and engage citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and family safety. Citizen Corps councils around the country will be helping to organize activities at the local level to make sure everyone knows what to do to be ready for terrorism and for other hazards like natural disasters and crime. The councils will help community members take these very important steps with education, training, and other support.

If your community does not yet have a Citizen Corps Council, take this opportunity to volunteer your time to get one started and to establish a local preparedness campaign. Contact your mayor’s office or other local government leaders to ask about how you can help. Click here to find out more: www.citizencorps.gov.

If you are part of a Neighborhood Watch group, you can host a meeting around this issue and make sure that everyone in your neighborhood has a kit and a plan, and knows how to be informed. If you do not have a Neighborhood Watch group, you can start one by going to www.usaonwatch.org and clicking on “Meet the Challenge” to print start-up materials. Being prepared is a good subject for a first meeting and for helping to get your neighborhood organized around emergency preparedness and crime prevention.

After helping your family and friends get prepared, volunteer to help your community get better prepared and Be Ready!

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