Baker Designates September as Emergency Preparedness Month

Governor Charlie Baker has proclaimed September 2021 as Emergency Preparedness Month to encourage residents, families, and organizations to prepare for emergencies and disasters. These efforts are part of a month-long National Preparedness Month campaign. 

To help make it easier for residents to prepare, as part of Emergency Preparedness Month, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is promoting “30 Days 30 Ways: 30 Days of Preparedness”. The initiative breaks down emergency preparedness into simple steps residents can take in 30 days to be more prepared by the end of the month. 

“To protect our families and communities, it is critical that our residents take steps to prepare for emergencies of all kinds, and Emergency Preparedness Month is an opportunity to do just that,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Preparedness can improve public health and safety and can help minimize property damage and the economic impacts of disasters.” 

Visitors to Mass.gov/Ready can see the full list of 30 preparedness steps to do in 30 days, view general preparedness tips, and learn how to prepare for specific threats and hazards. 

“Emergency Preparedness Month is a time each year to make ourselves and our families better prepared,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “While MEMA and other agencies continue to strengthen our state’s preparedness for the next disaster, we encourage the Commonwealth’s residents and businesses to take simple steps to prepare before the next emergency.” 

“Massachusetts faces a variety of hazards and threats that can cause damage and impact residents,” said Acting Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “Residents can improve their personal preparedness and build community resilience by knowing their risks, taking steps to prepare themselves and their property, and knowing what to do in an emergency.” 

“Even though getting prepared may seem overwhelming, it can be simplified by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps, making it affordable, and done over time,” said MEMA Deputy Director Pat Carnevale. “We encourage you to complete one task each day throughout the month and you’ll be better prepared by the end of the month.” 

During September, MEMA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will share information on their respective social media accounts about emergency preparedness topics including emergency planning, building an emergency kit, preparing for disasters, youth preparedness, ways to get involved in community preparedness, and more. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will feature signage along highways to raise awareness of Emergency Preparedness Month. 

MEMA is the state agency charged with ensuring the state is prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters, including natural hazards, accidents, deliberate attacks, and technological and infrastructure failures. MEMA’s staff of professional planners, communications specialists, and operations and support personnel is committed to an all-hazards approach to emergency management.

For additional information about MEMA and Emergency Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema.