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Thank you to National Preparedness Month Coalition Members

Posted by: Paulette Aniskoff, Director, Individual & Community Preparedness Division & Darryl Madden, Director, Ready Campaign
For Immediate Release
Blog Post

October 4, 2011

As September and National Preparedness Month comes to a close, we want to thank everyone who spent their time and energy educating others about emergency preparedness. Today we estimated that approximately three million individuals were informed at thousands of events and activities across the country, ranging from seminars and fairs, to community outreach events, workshops, webinars and trainings. Hundreds of great ideas came in from every part of the country, and there are more local events coming up soon!

Here are a few of the events:

Kailua Readiness (Kaneohe, Hawaii): The Kailua Chamber of Commerce held its first annual Emergency Readiness Fair, which occurred at the same time & location as a local Farmer's Market, allowing it to attract hundreds of people as a result. Children explored fire trucks and police cars while parents learned how to prepare their families. Organizers asked a simple question: "Where should you go when the tsunami sirens sound?" This prompting question allowed them to educate the public about the location of their local refuge centers.

Georgia (statewide): Kids Preparedness Workshop at the Home Depot. Ready Georgia teamed up with The Home Depot to help Georgia's kids learn about emergency preparedness during free Kids Workshops held throughout September at stores statewide. The workshops targeted children ages 5 to 12, and every child in attendance made a beanbag toss game, received a Ready Kids activity book, kid-sized orange apron, and an achievement pin.

Emergency Preparedness Billboards (Green Bay, Wisconsin): Brown County Emergency Management worked in coordination with NextMedia to post three billboards advertising NPM throughout the City of Green Bay and Brown County. The firm donated the installation, space, and design work and the billboards remained up through the end of September.

See more great ideas from around the country.

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, we want to encourage everyone to stay involved in emergency preparedness all year long. Web tools launched for NPM 2011 will continue to be available at http://community.fema.gov. Discussion forums will continue to allow individuals and organizations to interact and talk about ideas, activities and preparedness events. Partners can continue to post and promote existing and new preparedness events through the Event Calendars throughout the year.

Join the ShakeOut on October 20, 2011.

You can also keep the momentum going by joining us and helping to spread the word about the Great California ShakeOut on October 20, an earthquake drill where you can practice how to stay safe during and after an earthquake. Even if you don't live in California, you can register for a drill near you or register for a drill on another date. The recent earthquake in D.C. reminded us that disasters can strike anywhere and often happen without warning.

And as a reminder, here are a few tips on what to do during and after an earthquake:

  • If you're indoors, DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
  • If you're outdoors, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
  • Voice data networks may be congested after the earthquake (or other disaster), so send a text message or email to friends and family to let them know you're OK, and update your social network status to say "I'm OK."
  • Follow the direction of local officials when making the decision to return home, and return home only when local authorities have said it's safe.

Again, thanks for all of your work during National Preparedness Month. We still have more to do, so leave us a note on how you're continuing to get your community prepared.

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