THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BROWNLEE, MANN, BUXTON, DAVIS, DONATUCCI, THOMAS, FABRIZIO, McGEEHAN, MOUL, MURT, D. COSTA, SCAVELLO, MILLARD, PASHINSKI, CALTAGIRONE, FREEMAN, HESS, YOUNGBLOOD, MAJOR, M. O'BRIEN, GIBBONS, GEORGE, MAHONEY, KAVULICH, DALEY, HORNAMAN, BROOKS, MULLERY, READSHAW, MILNE, DELOZIER, BRIGGS, ROSS, BRADFORD, KULA, GOODMAN, STABACK, MIRABITO, LONGIETTI, DiGIROLAMO, SWANGER AND GILLEN, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of September 2011 as "Emergency

Preparedness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Each year, disaster strikes communities across the

world, causing individuals to flee their homes, often with very

little advance warning; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Americans are displaced by disasters

every year, many of them elderly and infirm; and

WHEREAS, Each year, the President proclaims September as

"National Emergency Preparedness Month" to stress the importance

of strengthening the security and resiliency of the nation

through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards

threatening the United States in the 21st century, including

natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease and acts of

terrorism; and

WHEREAS, Each year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its

communities participate and observe September as Emergency

Preparedness Month in Pennsylvania to ensure that residents and

the townships, boroughs, cities and counties in which they live

take the steps necessary to be ready for any disaster, natural

or manmade; and

WHEREAS, Each year, in communities large and small, victims

of disasters and emergencies in Pennsylvania and across the

United States turn to neighbors, familiar and new, for help

through the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local fire

departments, police departments, ambulance and paramedic

services, military bases, hospitals, urban search and rescue

units, wilderness search and rescue groups, canine rescue units,

dive teams, county 911 coordinators and staff, county hazardous

material teams, local emergency management coordinators and

staff, county emergency management coordinators and staff,

Medevac agencies, State Police troops, Civil Air patrols, ham

radio operators, National Guard personnel, local fire police and

many other paid staff and volunteers with various governmental,

nonprofit agencies and other groups; and

WHEREAS, Disasters come in many forms, from natural disasters

like hurricanes, tornadoes or even manmade attacks like those of

ten years ago that occurred on September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages

individuals to have emergency preparedness kits on hand should

disaster strike and provides information through its website,

www.ready.gov, to educate residents on how to prepare for

emergencies and disasters; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency does

its part to also assist Commonwealth residents in becoming well-

prepared for any disaster or emergency through its website,

www.readypa.org; and

WHEREAS, Designating September as Emergency Preparedness

Month in Pennsylvania can help empower Commonwealth residents by

providing information about the risks all residents can face and

the concrete actions they can take to protect themselves, their

families, their communities, their Commonwealth and their

country; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of September 2011 as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in

Pennsylvania and extend its thanks to the many paid staff and

volunteers who serve this Commonwealth and our nation through

emergency preparedness efforts to assist and protect residents

during any and all emergencies and disasters, natural and

manmade; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all residents

to observe September as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in

Pennsylvania and inform themselves by visiting the www.ready.gov 

and www.readypa.org websites and through other resources on how

they can become fully prepared for any and all emergencies.