IEMA Encourages People to Plan for Emergencies during National Preparedness Month in September

‘Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare’ is Them

SPRINGFIELD – Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. To encourage people to be better prepared for emergencies, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies throughout Illinois are joining local, state and federal agencies across the U.S. during September to observe National Preparedness Month. The campaign will conclude on September 30 with ‘America’s PrepareAthon,’ a national day of action.

“Spending just a few minutes today on personal preparedness can help you and your family stay safe when disaster strikes,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “We’re encouraging people to find out what hazards could affect their areas and then take actions to increase their preparedness, such as developing an emergency supply kit and a making a plan for reuniting if the family is separated during a disaster.”

The theme for this year’s preparedness campaign is “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.” Each week during the month, the campaign will focus on a different area of preparedness. The weekly themes include:

Sept. 1-7 – How to reconnect with family after a disaster

Sept. 8-14 – How to plan for specific needs before a disaster

Sept. 15-21 – How to build an emergency kit

Sept. 22-30 – How to practice for an emergency 

Throughout September, IEMA will post daily preparedness tips on the Ready Illinois Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois) and Twitter (@ReadyIllinois). IEMA also maintains the state’s Ready Illinois website (www.Ready.Illinois.gov​), a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during and after disasters.  

During disasters, IEMA uses the Ready Illinois website, Facebook and Twitter to provide critical information about the incident, including shelter locations, road closures, safety information, photos and more.