National Preparedness Month Kicks Off: “Prepared, Not Scared.”

It’s no surprise that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes September as National Preparedness Month (NPM). The ninth month marks the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy (it’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years) as well as the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season (all eyes are now on Hurricane Dorian). It’s also the time of year when millions of students return to school, which inherently raises awareness (and concerns) for campus safety.

Launched in 2004, NPM is FEMA’s national annual preparedness outreach. NPM is managed and sponsored by FEMA’s Ready Campaign. The Ready Campaign, in conjunction with the Ad Council, aims to educate and empower Americans during NPM and throughout the year to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The 2019 theme of NPM is “Prepared, Not Scared.”

Preparedness, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/FEMA, is “a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response.” 

Note the key words here—continuous cycle. Preparedness is not a “one and done” thing; it is an ongoing process that requires time, people, funding, and of course, commitment. This is especially true as it relates to the development and maintenance of all-important Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs), Continuity of Government (COG) Plans, etc. 

If it’s been a while since your organization reviewed its emergency and continuity plans, or even updated its Hazard Mitigation Plan, let this September, NPM 2019, serve as a reminder (both from DHS/FEMA and the BOLDplanning team).