*Press Office*

**U.S. Department of Homeland Security**

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Fact Sheet

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# July 31, 2007 {#july-31-2007 .Facsimile-Line}

# Contact: DHS Press Office, 202-282-8010 {#contact-dhs-press-office-202-282-8010 .Facsimile-Line}

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**NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH 2007**

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort sponsored
by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security each September to encourage
Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their
homes, businesses and schools.

-   The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public
    awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies,
    including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks, and to
    encourage individuals to take action to prepare themselves and their
    families.

-   This September will be the fourth annual National Preparedness
    Month. For the first time, the month will focus on different areas
    of emergency preparedness:

    -   September 1-8; Back-to-School (*Ready Kids)*

    -   September 9-15; Business preparedness (*Ready Business)*

    -   September 16-22; Multicultural preparedness (*Listo* Campaign)

    -   September 23-30; Home and family preparedness, including pets,
        older Americans and those individuals with disabilities and
        special needs (*Ready America*)

-   The month provides Americans with a variety of opportunities to
    learn more about emergency preparedness. The *Ready* Campaign and
    the Department's Citizen Corps Program will be working closely
    together to promote events and activities across the nation that
    will encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a
    family emergency plan and be informed about the different types of
    emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
    Efforts will also encourage individuals to get trained and involved
    in community preparedness.

-   Homeland Security is working with a wide variety of organizations,
    including national, regional, state and local government
    organizations to highlight the importance of public emergency
    preparedness throughout September. During September 2006, more than
    1,370 organizations and all 56 states and territories joined the
    coalition and supported the NPM goals. Citizen Corps and Coalition
    members conducted approximately 900 events around the nation last
    year.

-   National Preparedness Month Coalition membership is open to all
    public and private sector organizations. Groups can register to
    become a National Preparedness Month Coalition member by visiting
    [www.ready.gov](http://www.ready.gov/) and clicking on the National
    Preparedness Month banner.

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-   Throughout the year, Homeland Security promotes individual emergency
    preparedness through the *Ready* Campaign. *Ready* is a national
    public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising
    Council that is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare
    for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and
    potential terrorist attacks. The campaign's Web sites (www.ready.gov
    and www.listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and
    1-888-SE-LISTO) provide Americans with free emergency preparedness
    information.

-   Citizen Corps brings together community, emergency and government
    leaders to involve community members in emergency preparedness,
    planning, mitigation, response, and recovery. Through Citizen Corps
    and its Program Partners and Affiliates, individuals can find
    training and volunteer opportunities to support first responders in
    an emergency.

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