Since its inception in 2004, National Preparedness Month is observed each September in the United States of America. It is sponsored by the

Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Ex ...

(FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security and encourages Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their communities. FEMA's Ready Campaign, the correlating public education outreach campaign, disseminates information to help the general public prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

History

Since September 11, 2001, the US Government has taken steps to encourage citizens to make their own survival preparations. September was chosen due to the

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...

and because the peak of the

Atlantic hurricane season The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year from June through November when tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean, referred to in North American countries as hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition ...

is in mid-September.

Important Preparedness Steps

As of 2016, the National Household Survey revealed that, while more than 75% of Americans surveyed report having supplies set aside in their homes just for disasters, less than 50% have a household emergency plan. National Preparedness Month encourages individuals get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, be informed about different emergencies that may affect them, and get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts. Businesses are encouraged to document their property and equipment, back up business-critical information, and put a response team in place.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Preparedness Month Disaster preparedness in the United States Month-long observances September observances Observances in the United States