[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11994]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of 
September as National Preparedness Month. I commend the Guam Homeland 
Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), first responders and all 
community organizations, local government agencies, our military 
partners, and advocates who work to raise awareness and stress the 
importance of emergency preparedness in our community.
  The National Preparedness Month theme for 2016 is ``Don't Wait. 
Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.'' National Preparedness 
Month serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now 
and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect 
us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Guam joins the 
national campaign throughout the month of September to stress the 
importance of planning and preparing for natural, man-made and 
technological disasters. National Preparedness Month gets everyone in 
the community involved to build a sager, more prepared island 
community.
  I call upon our community to do our part to ensure that we are 
prepared for any emergency that may occur. Family members may not all 
be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to work in our 
individual families to create a plan. National Preparedness Month also 
encourages businesses, schools and communities to take the steps to 
prepare.
  Additionally, I commend the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil 
Defense along with our island's numerous community partners, 
organizations and agencies that have come together to actively promote, 
educate, and provide resources for our people through various programs 
and initiatives. Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense carries 
out the mission of coordinating and facilitating all Government of 
Guam, military and Federal liaison response agencies and their 
resources in mitigating, preparing, responding, and recovering from any 
and all types of emergencies in order to protect the lives, 
environment, and property of the island of Guam.
  On behalf of the people of Guam, I join Guam Homeland Security/Office 
of Civil Defense and all local government agencies, our military 
partners, organizations and advocates in recognizing survivors on Guam 
and commending those who assist in building a stronger, safer and more 
prepared island community.

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