release 090901

Secretary Napolitano And Administrator Fugate Mark The Beginning Of National Preparedness Month

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
For Immediate Release
September 1, 2009

WASHINGTON – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today marked the beginning of the sixth annual National Preparedness Month focusing on becoming better prepared for and more resilient in the face of emergencies of all kinds.

"National Preparedness Month is about building a culture of personal preparedness and shared responsibility across our country," said Secretary Napolitano. "This month, we ask all Americans to visit Ready.gov to learn what they can do to help their families, businesses and communities stay safe during an emergency— whether it be hurricanes like Katrina, the fires we are fighting in California or pandemic influenza."

"Every American is a critical member of our nation’s emergency response team," said FEMA Administrator Fugate. "By taking a few simple steps now, each of us can make sure we are better prepared for the next emergency or disaster."

For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO for More emergency preparedness information.

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