National Preparedness Month, 2012

Proclamation 8854 of August 31, 2012

National Preparedness Month, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As thousands of our fellow Americans respond to and
recover from the damage done by Hurricane Isaac, we are
called to remember that throughout our history,
emergencies and natural disasters have tested the
fabric of our country. During National Preparedness
Month, we renew our commitment to promoting emergency
preparedness in homes, businesses, and communities
nationwide, and to building an America more ready and
resilient than ever before.

Each of us has an important role to play in bolstering
our preparedness for disasters of all types--from cyber
incidents and acts of terrorism to tornadoes and
flooding. That is why my Administration is pursuing an
approach to emergency management that engages the whole
community--from Federal, State, local, and tribal
governments to the private sector, nonprofits, faith-
based organizations, and the general public. I
encourage all Americans to visit www.Ready.gov or
www.Listo.gov to learn more about the risks facing
their communities, find out what they can do to
prepare, and join thousands of individuals from coast
to coast by becoming a member of the National
Preparedness Coalition. Individuals and families can
also take action by building a disaster supply kit with
food, water, and essential supplies in case of
emergency, and by developing and sharing an emergency
plan with their loved ones.

As cities and towns across our country recover from
natural disasters that have spanned historic drought to
devastating wildfires and storms, we are reminded of
the spirit of resilience that binds us together as one
people and as one American family. This month, let us
honor that spirit by standing with all those affected
by recent severe weather, as well as past disasters,
and by taking the steps we can to protect our loved
ones and our communities before 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 2012 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
thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.