By Ed Somers
September 1, 2005

This September, The U.S. Conference of Mayors is once again joining with a coalition of more than 179 government and private organizations including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American Red Cross to mark "National Preparedness Month."

During the month, each coalition member will encourage citizens to take simple steps to prepare themselves and their families for a terrorist attack or any other type of emergency.

Some possible mayoral activities for National Preparedness Month that have been identified by DHS include:

• Discussing preparedness during regularly scheduled local radio and cable television shows.

• Including preparedness information in your newsletters and on your Websites.

• Writing opinion editorials about the importance of preparedness in state and local newspapers and magazines.

• Distributing emergency preparedness information, such as brochures from Homeland Security's Ready campaign or American Red Cross- Together We Prepare to your residents and encouraging them to get involved in National Preparedness Month.

• Posing emergency preparedness information on local or state highway signs.

• Sponsoring a preparedness event or activity during the course of National Preparedness Month 2005. Such events could include:
  • "Emergency Preparedness Fair" to coincide with the national launch on September 1
  • First aid or CPR training course
  • Blood drive
  • Emergency preparedness "how-to" seminar that will teach people how to create a family emergency plan and/or emergency supply kit
  • Host a local official involved in community preparedness such as the mayor, a police officer, firefighter, EMT, etc. to make remarks
  • Town hall meeting on preparedness

For more information or to become a National Preparedness Month 2005 Coalition Member, please contact Kristin Gossel at the Department of Homeland Security at npm@dhs.gov or 202-282-8010.