September is National Preparedness Month and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working hard to encourage youth organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities throughout the Nation to elevate the importance of preparedness and to encourage individuals, families and organizations to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies.  Join us in an effort to build a more resilient nation by:

• Making a Pledge to Prepare and becoming a National Preparedness Coalition member.
• Participating in the October 18, 2012 “Great ShakeOut” earthquake drill.
• Utilizing the free FEMA Youth Preparedness resources to start a youth preparedness program or to learn more about discussing youth preparedness with children, parents, guardians, administrators and more.

Once you have “Pledged to Prepare” and become a National Preparedness Coalition member, you’ll have access to a number of tools and resources including:

• Access to the National Preparedness Coalition website, the largest public online forum organized to improve our nation’s resilience against all hazards.
• A Calendar of Events highlighting preparedness activities from around the country
• Preparedness guides and resources.
• Ability to upload your photos to showcase events or other national preparedness efforts.
• Access to youth preparedness, CERT, and local Discussion Forums so you can learn from and share best practices with members from around the country.

There is no better time to Pledge to Prepare and help spread the message of preparedness!

The 2012 “Great ShakeOut” will be conducted on October 18.  Participating states, districts and territories include Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington.  We strongly encourage you, your school or organization to register at www.ShakeOut.org, and join more than 14 million participants, including thousands of schools who will take part in these drills. You can register even if your school, college, university or organization is not in a participating state, and be counted in this nationwide event.

FEMA’s CitizenCorps.gov website offers many downloadable and FREE youth preparedness resources such as:

• Two new school-focused companion documents, Preparedness Tips for School Administrators and Preparedness Tips for Parents and Guardians!
• A Youth Preparedness Implementation Guide for how to start a youth preparedness program in your community.
• A Catalogue of Youth Disaster Preparedness Education Resources, plus webinars and fun activities for kids, parents and teachers.

Stay informed through the U.S. Department of Education’s Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools - Technical Assistance Center website for information about emergency management and developing, implementing, and evaluating crisis plans.

Whether you join the National Preparedness Coalition, utilize youth preparedness resources, or participate in the ShakeOut, know that you are taking the vital steps to be better prepared during disasters!  Help spread the word today!