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Partners in Preparation
For the past three years, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have staged National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. The latest edition took place in September 2023 and was backed by the National Association of Counties (NACo) to highlight the role of counties in preparing for and responding to disasters. Founded in 1935, NACo serves America’s nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees.
“NACo and counties across the country engaged in a number of activities throughout the month of September, including things like holding emergency preparedness fairs to educate citizens about the county role and the role of first responders,” said Brian Namey, NACo’s chief public affairs officer. “During National Preparedness Month, there were a number of training sessions that counties held across the country, while issuing proclamations and holding media events to raise awareness at the national level. NACo also worked with FEMA to hold webinars and conference calls throughout the month to equip our members with tools and resources to elevate and amplify the role of county governments in disaster preparedness.”
Among the activities staged by NACo members during National Preparedness Month:
- Missouri’s Boone County hosted the Boone County Ready Festival on September 14, while Maryland’s Anne Arundel County held an Emergency Preparedness Fair on September 16.
- Erie County, Pennsylvania organized an educational “Be Ready for Emergencies” bingo game.
- Tompkins County, New York hosted a training session for its Citizen Preparedness Corps.
In raising awareness of preparedness during this special month, NACo and its member counties spotlighted the importance of EMS, fire, and police agencies in saving lives and providing vital assistance during manmade and natural calamities.
“EMS is a central partner in responding to disasters of all kinds,” Namey said. “In some cases they're part of the government, while in other cases they may be part of another entity or another jurisdiction. Either way, we could not respond to disasters without the services of EMS.”
Reflecting back on this year’s National Preparedness Month, Brian Namey told EMS World that more can be done to raise awareness of preparedness, both among the public and first responders.
“You could never have too much awareness when it comes to health and safety,” he said. “That’s why a month like National Preparedness Month is so important. When we talk about things like extreme heat, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other emergencies, we need to make sure that people are as prepared as possible. And so we work with EMS, other first responders, and county officials to motivate residents to prepare for disasters.”
Turning back to EMS and its role in national preparedness, “we want to thank the EMS community for their lifesaving services across the country,” said Namey. “We want to acknowledge and recognize EMS’ personnel for the sacrifices they make to help keep our communities healthy and safe. As well, we want to work with the EMS community to raise awareness about how people can be better prepared so that when a disaster strikes, we minimize the risks to public health and safety. And we want to do that in partnership with the EMS community.”
James Careless is a frequent contributor to EMS World.
