*Press Office*

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

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Fact Sheet

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# October 1, 2008 {#october-1-2008 .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 2008**

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security's (DHS) *Ready* Campaign. NPM is held each September
and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare
for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities.

-   September 2008 was the fifth annual NPM. The month focused on
    important preparedness steps including:

    -   Get an Emergency Supply Kit

    -   Make a Family Emergency Plan

    -   Be Informed

    -   Get Involved

        -   In 2008, the *Ready* Campaign was joined by more than 3,200
            NPM Coalition Members to educate individuals, families and
            communities on the importance of emergency preparedness. The
            2008 coalition of national, regional, state, and local
            organizations was the largest in the five year history of
            NPM, and represented a 4,000 percent increase in
            participation to date.

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-   Coalition Members participate in NPM by distributing information,
    hosting events and sponsoring activities across the country to
    promote emergency preparedness. A few examples of the preparedness
    events that took place in 2008 include:

    -   **ReadyPA:** Pennsylvania joined the growing list of states and
        regions that have localized the Ready Campaign by launching
        *ReadyPA* during National Preparedness Month. *ReadyPA* unveiled
        a web site and localized public service advertisements that
        direct citizens to visit
        [www.readypa.org](http://www.ready.gov/america/redirect.html?url=http://www.readypa.org/)
        for local emergency preparedness information. *ReadyPA* also
        partnered with Wal-Mart to feature in-store displays with key
        emergency kit items and informational handouts in 84 stores
        statewide.

    -   **Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM):** ADEM
        highlighted National Preparedness Month by partnering with local
        sports teams. They displayed a new Mobile Communications Unit
        outside War Memorial Stadium for the Arkansas Razorbacks vs.
        Louisiana Monroe football game on September 6th. ADEM
        distributed literature and played *Ready* Campaign public
        service advertisements during the game, which had an estimated
        60,000 people in attendance.\
        \
        ADEM also held preparedness nights at Dickey-Stevens Park, a
        minor league baseball stadium in North Little Rock. The *Ready*
        Campaign\'s public service announcements were played during
        playoff and championship games, and ADEM employees distributed
        brochures with information on how to put together a family
        emergency kit.

    -   **Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS):** OKOHS
        partnered with Radio Disney to host a kick-off event at the
        Tulsa Zoo. Vendors distributed information and OKOHS handed out
        items promoting *Ready* Oklahoma and emergency preparedness.
        OKOHS and Radio Disney also held a preparedness competition for
        schools in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where the most \"prepared\"
        school in each district received a \"Rockin\' Recess.\"\
        \
        In addition, OKOHS, Wal-Mart and Sam\'s Club partnered to host a
        statewide Emergency Preparedness Weekend from Sept. 19-21, when
        stores displayed emergency preparedness kits and provided
        preparedness information.

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-   NPM Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector
    organizations. It is free to join with a commitment to spread the
    emergency preparedness message during the month of September. Groups
    can register to become a NPM Coalition Member by visiting
    [ready.gov](http://www.ready.gov/) and clicking on the NPM banner.

-   *Ready* is a national public service advertising campaign produced
    in partnership with 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 (ready.gov and 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. More than 2,200 state,
    local, tribal and territorial governments in all 56 states and U.S.
    territories have formed Citizen Corps Councils, and every day new
    Councils are formed in communities around the country. These
    Councils enable collaborative planning between government and civic
    leaders and provide localized support for: outreach and educational
    efforts to the public; training and exercises that effectively
    integrate emergency responders, volunteers with a response role, and
    the general public; and volunteer programs that augment the full
    range of emergency response services. For more information about
    Citizen Corps, visit
    [citizencorps.gov](http://www.citizencorps.gov/).