National Preparedness Month Coalition

WASHINGTON. D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that more than 1,200 national, regional, tribal, state and local businesses and organizations have pledged their support and joined the 2009 National Preparedness Month (NPM) Coalition. Non-member organizations are strongly encouraged to join before the start of NPM. Led by FEMA's Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, NPM is held each September and is designed to raise awareness and promote action surrounding emergency preparedness among citizens, businesses and communities.

NPM 2009 is focused on helping Americans understand what it truly means to be Ready, which includes specific items to include in kits, making a plan, being informed and getting involved. This will also be the focus of Ready's new public service advertisements (PSAs) that are being produced by the Advertising Council and are slated to launch during NPM this September.

"I want to thank the hundreds of coalition members who are making a difference by promoting emergency preparedness in their communities," said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. "Taking the steps now to ensure that your family and your community are prepared will go a long way during the next emergency. We urge every American to take the steps necessary to keep their family safe, which include getting a kit, making a plan, being informed and getting involved."

All National Preparedness Month Coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness.

Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting www.ready.gov and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner.

To see a list of more than 1,200 national, regional, tribal, state and local businesses and organizations which have pledged their support and joined the 2009 National Preparedness Month (NPM) Coalition please visit http://www.ready.gov/america/npm09/members.htm.

For more information on the Ready Campaign and NPM, please visit http://www.ready.gov/ or http://www.listo.gov/. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO.

For information on Citizen Corps, to download the study, and to find the over 2,300 local communities who have created Citizen Corps Councils to strengthen collaboration between government and civic leaders and to educate, train, and involve the public, please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

This news story and other Community Preparedness news, including Citizen Corps Bulletins, can be found on our website at http://www.citizencorps.gov/.