release 090902

Secretary Napolitano And FEMA Administrator Fugate Unveil New Ads To Engourage Emergency Preparedness

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
For Immediate Release
September 2, 2009

WASHINGTON – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and the Ad Council to launch a new series of Ready Campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies, kicking off September's National Preparedness Month.

"Preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins with the American people," said Secretary Napolitano. "These public service advertisements highlight the simple steps everyone can take to prepare for disasters, enhancing the safety and security of our country."

"Emergency response is a team effort, and the most important member of that team is the public," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "The truth is, the more the public does now to prepare, the better we can respond in the future. That's why we are launching PSAs, encouraging Americans to visit Ready.gov and learn how they can do their part to prepare."

Produced pro bono by advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt in conjunction with the Ad Council, the new Ready PSAs—produced for television, radio, print, outdoor and the Web—direct audiences to visit www.ready.gov to find national and local preparedness information and resources.

The Ready Campaign encourages Americans to take three simple steps to prepare for emergencies: (1) Put together an emergency supply kit; (2) Make a family emergency plan; and (3) Get informed about the types of emergencies that could take place in their communities and appropriate responses.

Secretary Napolitano unveiled the new PSAs at an event in New York City's Times Square, joined by New York City Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno, American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern, American Red Cross in Greater New York CEO Theresa Bischoff and Ad Council President and CEO Peggy Conlon.

"Ready has made significant progress, but the farther we get from a major disaster, the more difficult the challenge in motivating Americans to prepare," said Ad Council President and CEO Peggy Conlon, "Our new PSAs, developed in partnership with DHS, are engaging and motivating and will go a long way in increasing our country's level of preparedness."

In addition to the national Ready PSAs launched today, New York City's new public service campaign— Ready New York —was also announced to encourage all New Yorkers to prepare for emergencies. The national Ready ads have also been localized for a number of other cities, including Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Chicago, Eugene, Ore., Houston, Kansas City, Mo., Los Angeles, and San Francisco—as well as the states of Utah and Virginia and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Initiated in 2003, the Ready Campaign is a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all emergencies in order to raise the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

In addition to outreach via traditional media, Ready also provides a series of social media tools to help Americans prepare for emergencies, including a downloadable family emergency plan, an interactive widget that provides users with updates on emergency situations, emergency kit checklists, and preparedness guidelines.

To view the PSAs and for more information on the Ready Campaign, visit www.ready.gov or follow "ReadydotGov" on Twitter.

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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