September is National Preparedness Month

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, this year's National Preparedness Month theme is "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare." It is meant to be a call to action urging communities to remember the disasters of the past while preparing for the disasters of the future. Although Sept. 11 is a prominent part of National Preparedness Month 2011, organizers says it is important to stress that preparedness is for all hazards, both natural and man-made.

The Ready Campaign is a year-round public service advertising campaign of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Produced in partnership with the Citizens Corps and the Ad Council, it aims to educate and empower Americans to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks, and other emergencies.

The AVMA maintains a Disaster Preparedness page at www.avma.org/disaster/default.asp that includes detailed disaster-planning resources for small and large animals.

The Ready Campaign's websites—www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov—provide free emergency preparedness information on assembling an emergency kit, developing a family emergency plan, and being informed. The toll-free numbers are 800-BE-READY, TTY 800-462-7585, and 888-SE-LISTO.