‘Ready Army’ campaign began as part of National Preparedness Month
Compiled from Army News Service and Ready Army Web site
The Army launched the “Ready Army” campaign Sept. 2, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Month, which encompassed the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Ready Army is designed to prepare the entire Army family at installations and communities across the nation and around the world for all potential hazards, natural and manmade, officials said.
“While partnered and aligned with the Department of Homeland Security’s national preparedness campaign called ‘Ready,’ Ready Army is specific to Army communities and is intended for use at the installation level,” said James Platt, chief of the Asymmetrical Warfare Office’s Protection Division. “Quite a few products have been developed for Soldiers, civilians and their families to inform them about all types of hazards and encouraging individual, family and community emergency preparedness,” Platt said.
Materials being sent to installations include an implementation guide, public service announcements, briefings, brochures, posters, emergency management kit information and readiness checklists, family emergency management planning templates, an electronic media kit, children’s activities, parent/teacher resource guide and web-based tools.
“This program will educate our Families on disaster preparedness and motivate them to ‘Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed,’ as the program’s motto encourages,” Col. Jon Dahms, chief of Planning Support in Army public affairs said.
Prepare
Preparing in advance could keep an emergency from becoming a disaster for you and your family. When an emergency strikes, knowing what to do can save time, property and lives. Ready Army, a proactive campaign to prepare the Army Community, encourages Soldiers, their Families and Army Civilians to Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed.Considerations for all Military Personnel, Civilian Employees and Families
Be Informed:
o Know what emergencies are most likely to affect you and your family.
o Know the local emergency warning system in your area and what actions to take if there is an emergency.
Another key part of National Preparedness Month was the debut of the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System or ADPAAS, officials said, adding that this is the official Army tool for personnel accountability in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
“Hurricane Katrina caught the services off guard with no real procedures in place to gain and maintain accountability of personnel and their family members,” said Lt. Col. Trudy Leonard, chief of the Personnel Contingency Cell for the Army G-1.
ADPAAS was built based on a directive from the Department of Defense to address this issue. This Web-based tool allows Families to update information by using the internet or calling a toll-free number. In addition, ADPAAS will assist officials to determine the status of Army Families and then provide assistance as needed.
“The bottom line is that preparedness increases the resiliency of America’s fighting forces and supports Soldiers who are forward-deployed,” Leonard said. “We want our Soldiers downrange to feel comfortable that their Families are being taken care of at home.”
Report
Following certain catastrophic events, the Secretary of the Defense may direct all DOD-affiliated people in the affected area to check in with their command for accountability. If Internet connectivity is available, check in online using ADPAAS at https://adpaas.army.mil.
ADPAAS links are also available at the Military One Source and Army One Source Web sites.
If you do not have Internet access or you do not receive other official reporting instructions, you may report your accountability status using any of the following methods:
1. Through your chain of command 2. By contacting any of the following approved call-centers: |
