Oakland, CA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing several new tools to assist communities, including news media, to help promote September’s National Preparedness Month (NPM). This is the first year that NPM will also include the America’s PrepareAthon Fall Day of Action on September 30.

The goal of America’s PrepareAthon! is to build a more secure and resilient nation by increasing local awareness about the types of disasters that could happen in one’s own community and what to do to be safe and prepared; but most importantly, practicing a response to these disasters. Therefore, this campaign is focused on getting people to take action, such as participating in a preparedness drill, exercise, or discussion to increase their level of emergency preparedness.

The following are resources available to communities and newsrooms:
• A digital guide on how to promote and participate in 2014 National Preparedness Month.

• The National Preparedness Month Digital Engagement Kit includes suggestions for engagement through social media as a way to promote National Preparedness Month, September 1st-30th.

• Three promotional preparedness videos, that include:
o It Started Like Any Other Day- 4:11 (Full version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_omgt3MEBs
o It Started Like Any Other Day- :30 Seconds (Promo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVeQw9uCfJc
o It Started Like Any Other Day- :15 Seconds (Promo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvvl6urVy-4

• Register with America’s PrepareAthon!, which provides Day of Action guides, How to Prepare guides, and customizable promotional materials designed to help Americans take action and join the growing number of individuals who recognize that preparing for disasters is a shared responsibility.
Follow FEMA Region IX online at www.twitter.com/femaregion9.