National Preparedness Month, 2011

Vol. 76

Friday,

No. 171

September 2, 2011

Part IV

The President

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Proclamation 8700--National Preparedness Month, 2011

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8700 of August 31, 2011

National Preparedness Month, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whenever our Nation has been challenged, the American
people have responded with faith, courage, and
strength. This year, natural disasters have tested our
response ability across all levels of government. Our
thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have
been impacted by recent storms, and we will continue to
stand with them in their time of need. This September
also marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of
September 11, 2001, which united our country both in
our shared grief and in our determination to prevent
future generations from experiencing similar
devastation. Our Nation has weathered many hardships,
but we have always pulled together as one Nation to
help our neighbors prepare for, respond to, and recover
from these extraordinary challenges.

In April of this year, a devastating series of
tornadoes challenged our resilience and tested our
resolve. In the weeks that followed, people from all
walks of life throughout the Midwest and the South
joined together to help affected towns recover and
rebuild. In Joplin, Missouri, pickup trucks became
ambulances, doors served as stretchers, and a
university transformed itself into a hospital. Local
businesses contributed by using trucks to ship
donations, or by rushing food to those in need.
Disability community leaders worked side-by-side with
emergency managers to ensure that survivors with
disabilities were fully included in relief and recovery
efforts. These stories reveal what we can accomplish
through readiness and collaboration, and underscore
that in America, no problem is too hard and no
challenge is too great.

Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and my
Administration is dedicated to implementing a ``whole
community'' approach to disaster response. This
requires collaboration at all levels of government, and
with America's private and nonprofit sectors.
Individuals also play a vital role in securing our
country. The National Preparedness Month Coalition
gives everyone the chance to join together and share
information across the United States. Americans can
also support volunteer programs through www.Serve.gov,
or find tools to prepare for any emergency by visiting
the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Ready
Campaign website at www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov.

In the last few days, we have been tested once again by
Hurricane Irene. While affected communities in many
States rebuild, we remember that preparedness is
essential. Although we cannot always know when and
where a disaster will hit, we can ensure we are ready
to respond. Together, we can equip our families and
communities to be resilient through times of hardship
and to respond to adversity in the same way America
always has--by picking ourselves up and continuing the
task of keeping our country strong and safe.

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 2011 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 eleven, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.