Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters
National Hurricane Preparedness Week

President Bush has declared May 25 -31, 2008 as “National Hurricane Preparedness Week” to highlight the critical importance of being prepared and working together when natural disasters strike.

The upcoming hurricane season, as well as the recent tornadoes, flooding, wildfires and other emergencies throughout the country, underscore the importance all of us have in taking a pro-active role in improving preparedness for emergencies that can happen anywhere, at any time. 

We have much work to do increase individual preparedness.  A recent survey of persons aged 50 and older by the Hartford Financial Services Group and Harris Interactive revealed that the vast majority of these respondents reported that they would rely on someone else to help them recover.  Yet, only one-fourth of these older individuals have actually talked to their first line of support – family members, friends or neighbors – about what they would need to get back on their feet. 

As we prepare our own families and convey the message that others must take individual responsibility for being prepared, all sectors of the Aging Services Network must become full participants in coordinated and advanced planning between Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, and the private sector, to quickly assist large numbers of people in a short amount of time.  

The 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act directs States and Area Agencies on Aging to coordinate emergency preparedness activities and plans with State and local response agencies, relief organizations, governments, and entities that have responsibility for disaster relief assistance.  It is only through these efforts that we will able to continue to ensure that the needs and characteristics of older individuals and other special needs populations will be adequately considered and included in state and local preparedness and response activities.

Across the Aging Services Network – through state and local training exercises, in the development of innovative best practices, and through the rapid and effective responses to a variety of natural disasters – we have seen the positive results of increased collaborations in working to safeguard and assist older individuals and their families in emergency situations.  We commend you for these efforts and encourage you to continue to build upon, strengthen and improve your emergency preparedness partnerships and planning to assure that plans will be responsive to all hazards and emergencies. 

Additional resources for emergency preparedness

• All aspects of emergency preparedness
• “Individual Preparedness -- Are You Ready?  An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness”: 
•  State and Local Guide (SLG) 101: Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning:
• Emergency Guide 
• Free booklet published by the Hartford and the MIT AgeLab “It Could Happen to Me: Family Conversations about Disaster Planning”

Presidential Proclamation : See Below

National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

National Hurricane Preparedness Week highlights the vital importance of being prepared when natural disasters strike.

Tropical storms can cause destruction over entire regions and claim the lives of many of our citizens. We can help reduce vulnerability in our communities by encouraging all citizens to be prepared and to work together. Maintaining emergency supply kits and family communication plans, and knowing what to do in an emergency can help save lives. For more information on hurricane preparedness, Americans can visit ready.gov and fema.gov to find checklists and other valuable resources to help them get prepared.

My Administration continues to support efforts to strengthen how Americans prepare for and respond to disasters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration works to predict and track storms so that citizens are more aware of potential storms. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has improved communication between Federal, State, local government, and the private sector in order to help citizens stay informed and receive the help they need. By working together, we can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes and reduce the harm to our citizens and our communities.

As hurricane season approaches, we also express our gratitude to the volunteers and first responders who help their fellow citizens in their time of need.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 25 through May 31, 2008, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I call upon government agencies, private organizations, schools, and the media to share information about hurricane preparedness. I also urge all Americans living in vulnerable coastal areas to take appropriate measures and precautions to protect themselves, their homes, and their communities against the effects of hurricanes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH