Governor Sonny Perdue today announced September as National Preparedness Month in Georgia. He encouraged Georgia citizens to take simple steps to make themselves and their families better prepared for emergencies.

“Federal, state and local officials, along with the volunteer community and the private sector continue to work hard to prevent and respond to emergencies,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I encourage every Georgian to support these efforts by developing a family disaster plan that best suits their needs.”

Families are encouraged to create a disaster supplies kit with at least a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food; a battery-powered radio and flashlight, first aid supplies, and other vital materials; develop a family disaster plan including evacuation and reunification plans; and learn more about the various natural and manmade threats to the community.

Individuals and family members are also urged to look for ways to help their community in times of emergency. One program in particular is Citizen Corps which sponsors Community Emergency Response Teams. Through Citizen Corps, individuals can find training and volunteer opportunities to support first responders in an emergency.

“Complacency is our greatest enemy, but National Preparedness Month helps us to focus on personal responsibility,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English. “Right now we are in the middle of hurricane season, but emergencies and disasters can occur at any time, and we all need to be ready.”

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Its goal is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

This year’s program targets four different areas of emergency preparedness including: back-to-school safety, business preparedness, multi-cultural preparedness, and family preparedness.

"This month serves to remind Georgia's citizens how important it is to plan for disasters and emergencies," said Gen. Terry Nesbitt, director Georgia Homeland Security. "There are some outstanding resources that our families can draw on to be better prepared for the threats that face us."

For more information visit GEMA’s Web site www.gema.state.ga.us or www.911.org, and visit the Citizen Corps Web site at www.citizencorps.gov where individuals can find training and volunteer opportunities to support first responders in an emergency.

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