NOW’S THE TIME: THE READY CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO RESOLVE TO BE READY IN 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the new year approaching, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready Campaign is reminding Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2009. Resolve to be Ready is a nationwide effort designed to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year.

“Individual planning is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Since establishing this department and Ready, we have come a long way in raising the baseline of preparedness in this country, but we still have a long way to go. As 2009 approaches, I urge all Americans to consider the importance – and real value – of being prepared for all hazards.”

Being Ready for emergencies can be an easy new year’s resolution to keep by following the Ready Campaign’s three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.

By taking these three steps – in particular having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car – Americans will be prepared for winter mainstays like power outages and icy roads. Each of these kits should include basic necessities such as water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you are without power or become stranded in your vehicle. Complete checklists for each kit are available at www.ready.gov.

This year, the Ready Campaign is employing new media strategies to promote emergency preparedness. By using Twitter, a social networking tool, Ready hopes to not only reach new audiences, but also to open the lines of communication with the public, ensuring emergency preparedness is top of mind year-round. Twitter users can stay up-to-date on the latest Ready activities by following their username, “ReadydotGov,” on Twitter.

By making the decision to Resolve to be Ready in 2009 and following the simple preparedness steps in advance, Americans will minimize the impact of emergencies on themselves, their family and their businesses. By visiting www.ready.gov or calling 1-800-BE-READY, individuals can access free materials that will help them make and keep a new year’s resolution that will bring their families peace of mind.

February 2008 marked the Ready Campaign's fifth year at the Department of Homeland Security. Launched in 2003 in partnership with The Advertising Council, Ready is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. It has proven to be one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council's more than 65-year history. Since its launch, the campaign has generated more than $756.5 million in donated media support. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit www.ready.gov.

FKDC Supports National Preparedness Month

The Florida Kidney Disaster Coalition (FKDC) supports September as National Preparedness Month. On our website, you'll find resources to help educate staff and patients on the critical need to prepare for emergencies.

http://www.fkdc.org/NPMR.htm

September is National Preparedness Month

Sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

Throughout September, DHS will work with a wide variety of organizations, including local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement through events and activities across the nation.

The FKDC wants to thank the 100+ facilities that decided to pioneer preparedness for themselves, their staff, and their patients by participating in the All Hazards Educational Series and completing the pre-quiz. To promote National Preparedness Month, the highest scoring facilities were asked to contribute their own preparedness stories to the FKDC blog.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov

Remember that the All Hazards Educational Series runs until December. It’s not too late to participate. You can visit www.fmqai.com/esrd/fkdc and click on the “Florida Kidney Disaster Coalition Tools” link for more information.

FKDC Joins the National Preparedness Month Coalition

The Florida Kidney Disaster Coalition (FKDC) joined the National Preparedness Month Coalition 2007. As a coalition member, FKDC pledges to promote emergency preparedness throughout September and beyond.

Part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the fourth annual National Preparedness Month encourages Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. This year's effort has a growing coalition of more than 625 national, regional, state, and local organizations pledging support.

"It is vital that Americans take steps to prepare for emergencies at home, work or school," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Personal preparedness is paramount to effectively reacting to the effects of a disaster. By preparing yourself, your family, and your businesses, you allow first responders to prioritize efforts and aid."

Homeland Security Committee members, Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins, and Reps. Bennie Thompson and Peter King, have agreed to serve as honorary Congressional co-chairs of National Preparedness Month 2007 and lead the effort to increase public awareness on the importance of emergency preparedness on Capitol Hill.

The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks and to encourage individuals to take action to prepare themselves and their families.

The month provides Americans with a variety of opportunities to learn more about emergency preparedness. Events and activities across the nation will encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses and get involved in preparing their communities.

Homeland Security is working with a wide variety of organizations, including national, regional, state and local government organizations to highlight the importance of public emergency preparedness throughout September. In 2006, more than 1,370 national, regional, state and local organizations joined the National Preparedness Month Coalition and supported this important effort by disseminating emergency preparedness messages to their customers, members, employees, stakeholders and communities across the nation.

Throughout the year, DHS promotes individual emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign. Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council that is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The campaign's Web sites (www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide Americans with free preparedness information.

For more information on how FKDC is promoting National Preparedness Month, contact Sherilyn Burris at sburris@nw7.esrd.net