Here in Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month is in April. Now it is "celebrated" (is that the right word?) twice a year since the Department of Homeland Security started September as Disaster Preparedness Month following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
I know it is traditional to have one month be an area of emphasis. For instance, I can remember that October is Fire Safety Month--because it has been for-ev-er. Just because it has been doesn't mean that it always has to be!
Shouldn't every month be "Disaster Preparedness Month?" Are we sending the wrong message when we have an emphasis only one twelfth of the year? There are efforts that have been done by the Red Cross and other local emergency management programs to have the Disaster Calendar with pictures of beefcake emergency managers (no not really) and a tip of the month, an activity to do, etc. like "update your disaster plan."
I think there might be a better way--I just don't know what it is. When we did our 3days3ways.org media campaigns we always held a portion of our funding in reserve for the window of opportunity that provides the teachable moment. If the moment (a disaster) never happened we'd spend the money down anyway.
See what the national folks are thinking about FEMA's Ready Campaign
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I know it is traditional to have one month be an area of emphasis. For instance, I can remember that October is Fire Safety Month--because it has been for-ev-er. Just because it has been doesn't mean that it always has to be!
Shouldn't every month be "Disaster Preparedness Month?" Are we sending the wrong message when we have an emphasis only one twelfth of the year? There are efforts that have been done by the Red Cross and other local emergency management programs to have the Disaster Calendar with pictures of beefcake emergency managers (no not really) and a tip of the month, an activity to do, etc. like "update your disaster plan."
I think there might be a better way--I just don't know what it is. When we did our 3days3ways.org media campaigns we always held a portion of our funding in reserve for the window of opportunity that provides the teachable moment. If the moment (a disaster) never happened we'd spend the money down anyway.
See what the national folks are thinking about FEMA's Ready Campaign
