Governor Crist Proclaims September as Florida Preparedness Month
Sep 1, 2009
The Office of Florida Governor Charlie Crist issued the following press release on September 1, 2009:
~ Floridians Urged to Get A Plan, Get Involved ~
TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today proclaimed September 2009 ‘Florida Preparedness Month.’ In recognition of the month, the Florida Division of Emergency Management will be partnering with more than 3,260 organizations across the U.S. to help educate the public about the importance of emergency preparedness.
“With the peak of the 2009 Hurricane Season approaching and the tropics remaining active, it is important that all Floridians prepare their families, homes and businesses for natural or man-made disasters,” said Governor Crist. “Preparedness is the key to success. It is my hope that Florida residents take time this month to learn about what happens in their communities during a disaster and find ways to help their neighbors, family members and friends be better prepared.”
In addition to participating in Florida’s Preparedness Month, the Division is participating in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ad Council’s sixth annual National Preparedness Ready Campaign, which will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and helping Americans understand what it truly means to be “Ready.”
State, local law-enforcement, emergency management and volunteer agency officials support this effort as an excellent opportunity for all residents to get involved in local efforts such as Citizens Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams, and local faith and community-based organizations such as the Red Cross.
“The more our residents and communities are prepared today, the better they can withstand and survive the impacts of future disasters,” said Division of Emergency Management Interim Director Ruben D. Almaguer. “Everyone can be leaders and change outcomes locally by getting involved and helping their neighbors.”
To help Floridians prepare for disasters, the state has Web-based tools where adults and kids can go to build and customize their own personal or business disaster plans. For more information on preparedness and how you can GET A PLAN! please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org or www.KidsGetAPlan.com .
For more information on volunteer efforts statewide please visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.
FLORIDA PREPAREDNESS MONTH
WHEREAS, Florida is the most hurricane-vulnerable state in the nation and September ushers in the peak time of the hurricane season; and
WHEREAS, Florida’s citizenry and numerous visitors must remain aware of, and be prepared for, natural hazards such as hurricanes, and man-made hazards, such as threats to domestic security, by adopting a culture of preparedness; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has developed a domestic security strategy fostering collegial partnerships with first responders and emergency managers from local, regional, and state levels to ensure that all Floridians are protected from potential acts of terrorism; and
WHEREAS, Florida’s State Emergency Response Team and Regional Domestic Security Task Forces remain committed to meeting the needs of Floridians during times of disaster; and
WHEREAS, continuous education and community outreach are some of the best methods of preparing and protecting the public for all-hazards; and
WHEREAS, all Floridians are urged to take personal responsibility and develop a disaster preparedness plan based on their own needs; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, the state of Florida developed a new educational resource, www.KIDSGETAPLAN.com, where students, parents and teachers can obtain safety information, books and learning tools to become better prepared; and
WHEREAS, the great State of Florida supports the federal outreach initiative and declaration of September 2009 as National Preparedness Month;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charlie Crist, Governor of the State of Florida do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing September 2009 as Florida Preparedness Month and participate in activities to increase their personal knowledge of preparing and protecting their families, homes and businesses from the hazards of natural disasters or man-made events and to GET A PLAN! for appropriate actions when called to do so by their local authorities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 1st day of September, in the year two thousand nine.
Charlie Crist
Governor