September is National Preparedness Month.

September marks the nation's sixth National Preparedness Month. To raise awareness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging local governments, private sector partners and not-for-profit organizations to hold events that promote emergency preparedness in homes, schools, businesses and communities.

National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to teach community members how to be self-reliant when a disaster strikes through creating family emergency plans and emergency supply kits.

Local government participation helps citizens get informed about the types of emergencies that may occur in their community, appropriate responses and how they can get involved in helping others get prepared for or respond to disaster.

Stressing personal preparedness for individuals and their families allows emergency workers to focus on those who are most in need during a disaster.

FEMA has put together materials on how individuals can get prepared, as well as information specific to seniors, businesses, young audiences, pet owners, and various special needs populations.

National Preparedness Slipping

FEMA's tracking polls show that emergency preparedness is "leveling off." Only 12 percent of Americans say their household is "very prepared" for a catastrophic disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane or terrorist attack (15 percent in 2006), and 48 percent say they are "somewhat prepared" (46 percent in 2006).

Looking further into the numbers, FEMA found many believe they have taken appropriate steps toward emergency preparedness, but emergency supplies are often scattered throughout the house, not planned out or otherwise not ready to go.

FEMA's polling also showed increasing "low concern and desensitization" to preparedness.

Local Government Activities

In an effort to raise awareness, local communities can join the thousands of FEMA coalition members across the country through the www.Ready.gov website.

Local governments, often in coordination with not-for-profits or private sector sponsors, have held events to help their communities become more prepared for the possibility of an emergency. Communities have been known to hold emergency preparedness fairs that teach citizens about family emergency plans, creating disaster kits and how preparedness helps emergency responders get to those most in need during an emergency.

To hear about how other communities have marked National Preparedness Month and learn more about what you can do, visit www.ready.gov or visit NLC's City Practice Database at www.nlc.org and search emergency preparedness.

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