# 5163
Since 1953, there have been a total of 1949 federally declared disasters, averaging out to 34 per year.
That number is a bit deceptive, however, since over the past decade we’ve routinely seen 50, 60, and even 70 disasters each year.
2010 has set a new record, with 79 disaster declarations as of 11/24. And the year isn’t over.
Most of these disasters are, as you might expect, weather related; Hurricanes, blizzards, floods, and tornadoes.
But weather isn’t the only threat. Earthquakes, tsunamis, industrial accidents, and terrorism all have the potential to generate a genuine disaster.
And it doesn’t take a community-wide crisis to ruin your entire day.
Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans are involved in injury producing household accidents, car wrecks, house fires, severe storms, and other forms of unexpected mayhem.
Being prepared – with a family emergency plan, a proper first aid kit, and emergency supplies – can make the difference between suffering (and surviving) an inconvenience and a tragedy.
FEMA, Ready.gov, and the Department of Homeland Security, along with the Ad Council, have produced a 24 page toolkit to help promote better individual and community preparedness in 2011.
You can find the details on the Ready.gov website at:
This toolkit is well worth downloading (and sharing). A few excerpts and links.
As the New Year approaches, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Ready Campaign is once again reminding people to Resolve to be Ready in 2011. Americans who make New Year’s resolutions are 11 times more likely to report continued success in achieving a goal than individuals who have not made a resolution, according to the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
The Ready Campaign would like to make an emergency preparedness resolution easy to keep by providing the tools and resources needed to take the three important steps: get a kit, make a plan and be informed about the different types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses. We hope you will join the Ready Campaign this Holiday Season in promoting Resolve to be Ready.
On this page you will find a toolkit to help your organization develop internal and external messages to encourage your members, employees, constituents, customers and community to make a New Year's resolution to prepare for emergencies. You will also find Web banners for your organization's Web site, a sample E-mail and a Newsletter you can share with your key constituents.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Ready at Ready@dhs.gov.
Now's the Time. Resolve to be Ready in 2011.
Resolve to be Ready Toolkit
Resolve To Be Ready Toolkit
PDF, 538 Kb
Resolve to be Ready Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
Resolve To Be Ready Powerpoint Presentation
MS PPT, 5.5 Mb
All Resolve to be Ready Collateral
Resolve To Be Ready ZIP Archive
ZIP, 6.5 Mb
