September is National Preparedness Month

This theme reminds us that we must take the necessary steps now to be prepared not just today, but throughout the year.

As you’re fully aware, our daily local and national news broadcasts highlight emergencies and/or disasters that occur across our nation and around the world. Whether it’s a natural or man-made disaster, or a technological phenomenon, these major events threaten the safety of our personnel and jeopardize our ability to accomplish the mission.

National Preparedness Month is a time to prepare ourselves and those around us for the hazards which may affect our community.

Accordingly, the Air Force’s “Be Ready,” the Army’s “Ready Army” and the Navy’s “Ready Navy” awareness campaigns were established to ensure our military and civilian members have the knowledge they require to enhance their resilience, to equip their readiness and to increase our security by being prepared to respond and recover from any emergency situation that occurs in Joint Base San Antonio.

Our end goal is to foster a culture of preparedness across our installation. Therefore, I encourage every Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coast Guardsman and Department of Defense civilian to learn about the potential hazards that could occur in the Joint Base San Antonio area; to develop emergency response plans in our units and at home; and to join in local efforts to become a partner in our overall preparedness.

Moreover, I encourage every commander, staff agency lead, supervisor and unit emergency management representatives to promote our awareness campaigns by including emergency preparedness information in your staff meetings, commander’s calls and other venues this month.

Our installation’s Office of Emergency Management has a variety of information and products available to support your efforts.

I urge you to make use of those items and the talents of our emergency management professionals by contacting them at 671-2260 or 502ces.cex.inbox@us.af.mil.