National Preparedness Month, 2010

Proclamation 8549 of August 27, 2010

National Preparedness Month, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National Preparedness Month, we stress the
importance of strengthening the security and resiliency
of our Nation through systematic preparation for the
full range of hazards threatening the United States in
the 21st century, including natural disasters, cyber
attacks, pandemic disease, and acts of terrorism. This
year marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,
one of the most tragic and destructive disasters in
American history. In remembrance of this national
tragedy, we must reaffirm our commitment to readiness
and the necessity of preparedness.

By empowering Americans with information about the
risks we face, we can all take concrete actions to
protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and
our country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's
(FEMA) Ready Campaign provides simple and practical
steps every American can take to be better prepared. At
the community level, Citizen Corps enables volunteers
to contribute to homeland security efforts by
educating, training, and coordinating local activities
that help make us safer, better prepared, and more
responsive during emergencies. I encourage all
Americans to visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov for
more information and resources on emergency
preparedness, including how to prepare a family
emergency plan, create an emergency supply kit, and get
involved in community preparedness efforts.

My Administration has made emergency and disaster
preparedness a top priority, and is dedicated to a
comprehensive approach that relies upon the
responsiveness and cooperation of government at all
levels, the private and nonprofit sectors, and
individual citizens. I also encourage Americans to get
involved with the thousands of organizations in the
National Preparedness Month Coalition, which will share
preparedness information and hold preparedness events
and activities across the United States. By
strengthening citizen preparedness now, we can be ready
when disaster strikes.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as
National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans
to recognize the importance of preparedness and observe
this month by working together to enhance our national
security, resilience, and readiness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.