Collins, Lieberman Highlight National Preparedness Month Encourage Families to Prepare for Emergencies

COLLINS, LIEBERMAN HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

Senators Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), Honorary Senate Co-Chairs of National Preparedness Month, expressed their support today for this annual effort by the Department of Homeland Security to encourage Americans to work to boost preparedness for emergencies and national disasters.

Launched in 2004, National Preparedness Month is dedicated to promoting awareness of steps all Americans can take toward emergency preparedness and to encourage action to prepare homes, businesses and schools across the nation. This year, National Preparedness Month is specifically focused on helping families better equip themselves in the face of disaster situations.

"The challenge we face in responding effectively to emergencies is not just about levees, hurricanes, or the Gulf Coast. It is about plans and protections. No one knows where the next great disaster will occur, or what form it will take. We know only that some disasters will entail mass casualties, horrific destruction, disruption of communications and emergency-response systems, and a pressing need for rapid assistance with evacuation, search-and-rescue, sheltering, law-enforcement, medical care, and other efforts," said Senator Collins. "We must improve preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities at all levels of government, so that the next disaster on the scale of Katrina will leave a much less tragic legacy. America is better prepared than a year ago, but we still have a great deal of work to do."

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