| September is the sixth annual National | | | | should have a survival kits at home, work, school |
| Preparedness Month (NPM), which is the perfect | | | | and automobile with enough supplies to be |
| time to remind citizens about the importance of | | | | self-sufficient for at least a minimum 72 hours. |
| having an emergency preparedness survival kit | | | | A study released this summer by Citizen Corps, |
| and plan for their families, businesses, and | | | | found that Americans are not as prepared as |
| communities. FEMA's Ready Campaign is asking | | | | they think. Fewer than half of individuals 42% |
| Americans to think about how prepared they are | | | | have an emergency plan for their home and less, |
| for anything from earthquakes to terrorist | | | | approximately 32% of Americans have 72-hour |
| attacks. has joined a coalition of over 3,200 | | | | survival kits. |
| members across the nation for the third year in a | | | | Making an emergency disaster plan starts with |
| row. This coalition includes a wide range of state | | | | gathering information about where you live, work, |
| and local governments, businesses, and | | | | go to school and anywhere you spend great |
| organizations. NPM is held each September to | | | | amounts of time. You will need to know what |
| increase public awareness about emergency | | | | types of emergencies or disasters could affect |
| preparedness. Owners of Chad Allen and Scott | | | | that location. Once you have this information, |
| Kastner, eagerly participate in this month long | | | | you are ready to sit with family members to |
| event in order it help educate the public and help | | | | formulate your plan. The plan should include |
| save lives. | | | | contact information, evacuation procedures |
| This year, the Ready Campaign is helping | | | | including two meeting places, an outside the area |
| Americans understand preparedness goes beyond | | | | designated contact, as well as a complete |
| fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and | | | | inventory of all survival kits and supplies. Each |
| extra food in the pantry to change perceptions | | | | person in your family or group should have a |
| about emergency preparedness and help | | | | good understanding of what to expect should a |
| Americans understand what it truly means to be | | | | natural or man-made disaster strike. Once you |
| "Ready." Having survival kits and supplies on hand | | | | have a written plan schedule a time twice per |
| for each family member it essential. Each person | | | | year to review and revise this plan. |