National Preparedness Month provides local health department (LHD) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit leaders, staff, and volunteers with an opportunity to foster greater community understanding and support for the critical role of local public health in supporting emergency preparedness. By hosting preparedness-themed education and outreach activities throughout September, LHDs and MRC Units can promote year-round community vigilance and strengthen collective resilience. In addition, local health officials and MRC Unit volunteers can sharpen their preparedness knowledge and facilitation skills as a result of leading Preparedness Month events.
Get Involved
NACCHO encourages LHDs to take advantage of Preparedness Month to engage families, communities, businesses, and other regional partners in preparedness activities. This year’s weekly focus points are listed below:
- September 1-7: Save Early for Disaster Costs
- September 8-14: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
- September 15-21: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disaster
- September 22-30: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness
Resources and sample social media posts for each week are available at Ready.gov, along with graphics, videos, and resources for diverse language communities. Additionally, FEMA has developed a series of PSAs by geographic location (East, Gulf, Midwest, West) and disaster type (tornado, flood, blizzard, fire).
Use these resources to help strengthen preparedness in your communities.
