September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). This year, Ready.gov is trying to drive home one very important and poignant message: “You never know when the day before is the day before.”

According to a recent survey by the Ad Council, only 17% of Americans claim to be very prepared for an emergency situation. And those who spend their careers — and risk their lives — responding to disasters and emergencies know what a lack of preparedness means for first responders and the communities they protect.

Emergency responders need to foster a sense of personal responsibility for preparedness within all members of the community, whether it is protection against and prevention of house fires, prolonged power outages, or something even more severe. Unfortunately, the further they get from a major disaster, the more difficult it is to motivate Americans to prepare.

National Preparedness Month also a reminder to every American that they are the most important members of our country’s emergency management team. When citizens prepare, first responders can focus precious resources on the most-vulnerable citizens.

Also according the Ad Council survey, only 60% of Americans have done somethign to prepare for an emergency. Therefore it is important to encourage preparedness year-round.

These four accessible steps help individuals and families make their first move toward preparedness:

1. Get an emergency supply kit
2. Make a family emergency plan
3. Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses
4. Get involved by finding opportunities to support community preparedness.

It is important to remind everyone that refreshing an existing plan on a regular basis is just as important as creating one in the first place.

To reach the goal of full preparedness, this September FEMA is asking emergency reponders to  “Pledge to Prepare.”

• Teach others to be prepared and serve as an advocate for safety and emergency preparedness within your community and department.
• If you have not yet joined, become a part of the National Preparedness Coalition to get outreach resources, social-media messages and connect with other ‘leaders in preparedness’ around the country.
• Make your pledge to preparedness known by promoting your efforts and activities through local media and other promotional opportunities. Being a leader means you are getting the word out – influence others to prepare by sharing your success as a community leader and providing opportunities for others to get involved.