FORT SILL, Okla. -- National Preparedness Month (NPM), each September, emphasizes the importance of being prepared for emergencies, such as tornadoes, hurricanes or terrorist attacks.
Soldiers, families and civilians are encouraged to turn awareness into action by being informed, making a plan, building a kit and getting involved.
This year marks the 10th annual NPM campaign. It's the Army's focus to educate, empower and involve the Army community in preparedness activities that enhance the resiliency of the Army and increase the nation's readiness for all hazardous events.
Looking back at what the Army did in previous years provides a baseline for this year's campaign as well as those in the future.
In 2009, the Army established the Army Emergency Management Program outlined in Army Regulation 525-27 implementing all-hazards preparedness planning. To bring awareness to this program and increase Army preparedness, Army headquarters executed the Ready Army campaign.
Ready Army is a proactive community awareness campaign to empower Soldiers, families and civilians to prepare in advance for all hazards, natural or man-made. In 2011, the Army renewed its commitment to team with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign to develop a unique Army component that applies to Soldiers and their families.
Looking to the future, the Ready Army campaign continues to incorporate the best outreach tools and educational materials to encourage Soldiers, families and civilians to turn awareness into action that enhances individual and family preparedness. The Army will continue to align stakeholders such as family readiness groups with the all hazards planning process. The Army will also continue to modernize installation emergency management systems through 2016 to enhance protection capabilities. These initiatives should increase Army resiliency for the future.
This year the Army is joining the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA in the America's Prepareathon campaign. The campaign is a nation wide, community-based initiative to increase emergency preparedness and community resilience. The entire Army community is encouraged to join this initiative by visiting the Ready Army website at www.acsim.army.mil/ready army/, joining the national preparedness community and pledging to prepare.
Any efforts Soldiers, families and civilians can take are important to the Army to meet the guidelines established in the National Response Framework. Under this program, citizens are expected to be self-sufficient for 72 hours when base services such as water, power and government support may not be available. Every member of the Army community and their families must be ready to survive under these conditions.
For more information about the preparedness month, visit the Ready Army website.
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