1Designating the month of September 2013 as "Emergency
2Preparedness Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Each year, disaster strikes communities across the
4world, causing individuals to flee their homes, often with very
5little advance warning; and

6WHEREAS, Thousands of Americans are displaced by disasters
7every year, many of them elderly and infirm; and

8WHEREAS, Each year, the President proclaims September as
9"National Emergency Preparedness Month" to stress the importance
10of strengthening the security and resiliency of the nation
11through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards
12threatening the United States in the 21st century, including
13natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease and acts of

1terrorism; and

2WHEREAS, Each year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its
3communities participate and observe September as Emergency
4Preparedness Month in Pennsylvania to ensure that residents and
5the townships, boroughs, cities and counties in which they live
6take the steps necessary to be ready for any disaster, natural
7or manmade; and

8WHEREAS, Each year, in communities large and small, victims
9of disasters and emergencies in Pennsylvania and across the
10United States turn to neighbors, familiar and new, for help
11through the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local fire
12departments, police departments, ambulance and paramedic
13services, military bases, hospitals, urban search and rescue
14units, wilderness search and rescue groups, canine rescue units,
15dive teams, county 911 coordinators and staff, county hazardous
16material teams, local emergency management coordinators and
17staff, county emergency management coordinators and staff,
18Medevac agencies, State Police troops, Civil Air Patrols, ham
19radio operators, National Guard personnel, local fire police and
20many other paid staff and volunteers with various governmental,
21nonprofit agencies and other groups; and

22WHEREAS, Disasters come in many forms, from natural disasters
23like hurricanes, tornadoes or even manmade attacks like those of
2413 years ago that occurred on September 11, 2001; and

25WHEREAS, The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages
26individuals to have emergency preparedness kits on hand should
27disaster strike and provides information through its website,
28www.ready.gov, to educate residents on how to prepare for
29emergencies and disasters; and

30WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency does

1its part to also assist Commonwealth residents in becoming well-
2prepared for any disaster or emergency through its website,
3www.readypa.org; and

4WHEREAS, Designating September as Emergency Preparedness
5Month in Pennsylvania can help empower Commonwealth residents by
6providing information about the risks all residents can face and
7the concrete actions they can take to protect themselves, their
8families, their communities, their Commonwealth and their
9country; therefore be it

10RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
11month of September 2013 as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in
12Pennsylvania and extend its thanks to the many paid staff and
13volunteers who serve this Commonwealth and our nation through
14emergency preparedness efforts to assist and protect residents
15during any and all emergencies and disasters, natural or
16manmade; and be it further

17RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
18residents to observe September as "Emergency Preparedness Month"
19in Pennsylvania and inform themselves by visiting the
20www.ready.gov and www.readypa.org websites and through other
21resources on how they can become fully prepared for any and all
22emergencies.