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News | Aug. 31, 2017

DCMA participates in National Preparedness Month

By Andre Gross DCMA Security

September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This year’s focus is on planning, with an overarching theme, “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”

During this month, Defense Contract Management Agency personnel are encouraged to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools and communities.

The goal of the initiative is to increase individuals, families and communities’ engagement and participation in preparedness actions. Emergency preparedness involves being educated and empowered to plan, prepare and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

Throughout this year in the United States, there have been wildfires, hailstorms, tornadoes, landslides, supercell thunderstorms, and most recently, catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. These incidents have impacted people in some manner, including loss or damage to personal property, and several of these events have even caused loss of life.

Although individuals cannot always control how, when or where a disaster occurs, it’s vital to plan and prepare effective responses before disasters strike. People can also help first responders in their communities by training how to respond to an emergency and knowing what to do when a disaster strikes — wherever they live, work and visit.

Employees can learn more by visiting the Emergency Preparedness website, http://www.dcma.mil/Emergency-Resources/, and reading the “Get Ready for National Preparedness Month” participant information brief. The brief also provides a list of weekly activities to take part to plan for emergencies at home, work and in your community. The brief can be viewed at https://360.dcma.mil/directorate/PH-DC/DCS/SiteAssets/DCMANPMSepT17.pdf.

National Preparedness Month weekly themes:

Week 1: Sept. 1-9, Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
Week 2: Sept. 10-16. Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community
Week 3: Sept. 17-23, Practice and Build Out Your Plans
Week 4: Sept. 24-30, Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger

To learn more about the initiative, go to www.ready.gov/september.