[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 61977-61978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21754]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 61977]]


                Proclamation 9481 of August 31, 2016

                
National Preparedness Month, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Americans have been tested by trial and tragedy since 
                our earliest days--but year after year, no matter the 
                hardship, we pull through and forge ahead. Fifteen 
                years after the attacks of September 11, we reflect on 
                our strength as a Nation when anything threatens us. 
                Today, as the residents of Louisiana mourn the loss of 
                loved ones and face tremendous damage caused by 
                historic floods, we are reminded of what Americans do 
                in times like these--we see the power of love and 
                community among neighbors who step up to help in 
                extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Preparing 
                ourselves to meet the unknown challenges of tomorrow is 
                a duty we all share, and when confronted with crisis or 
                calamity, we need to have done everything possible to 
                prepare. During National Preparedness Month, we 
                emphasize the importance of readying ourselves and our 
                communities to be resilient in the face of any 
                emergency we may encounter.

                Although my Administration continues doing everything 
                we can to keep the American people safe, it is each 
                citizen's responsibility to be as prepared as possible 
                for emergencies. Whether in the form of natural 
                disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, or 
                unspeakable acts of evil like terrorism, danger can 
                arise at unexpected times and places. Fortunately, 
                there are many things that individuals, families, and 
                communities can do to improve their readiness. I 
                encourage all Americans to take proactive steps to 
                prepare for any situation that may occur--including 
                signing up for local alerts, checking insurance 
                coverage, documenting valuables, creating a plan for 
                emergency communication and evacuation, and having a 
                fully stocked disaster supply kit on hand. And I 
                encourage those in the business community to prepare 
                their employees, develop a business continuity plan, 
                and engage in community-level planning to help ensure 
                our communities and private sector remain strong when 
                faced with an emergency. For information on how to 
                better prepare for emergencies that are common in your 
                area, or to learn about resources that may be available 
                for increasing preparedness, visit www.Ready.gov or 
                www.Listo.gov.

                In the face of unpredictable threats and hazards, we 
                are committed to improving access to information and 
                raising awareness of the importance of precautionary 
                measures. Leaders across our country should take the 
                time to review the 2016 National Preparedness Report 
                and find ways to address the vulnerabilities it 
                highlights. All Americans can play a role in fulfilling 
                our National Preparedness Goal by addressing the risks 
                that affect them and participating in preparedness 
                activities across our Nation.

                We continue to collaborate with State, local, and 
                tribal partners, along with those in the public and 
                private sectors, to ensure that communities in crisis 
                do not have to face these dangers alone. In addition to 
                coordinating relief efforts and providing rapid 
                response, we have focused on supporting the needs of 
                survivors, investing in affected neighborhoods, and 
                helping them rebuild their communities to be better, 
                stronger, and more resilient. Federal agencies are also 
                working to share resources with the public, promote the 
                tools and technologies that could help during 
                disasters, and offer preparation strategies. We 
                launched America's PrepareAthon! to bring communities

[[Page 61978]]

                together and help them plan for emergencies, and on 
                September 30, we encourage a national day of action to 
                spur preparedness efforts from coast to coast.

                Disasters have become more frequent and severe as our 
                climate changes; both urban and rural areas are already 
                feeling the devastating consequences, including severe 
                droughts and higher sea levels, intense storms and 
                wildfires, and more powerful hurricanes and heat waves. 
                Climate change poses an imminent and lasting threat to 
                our safety and national security, and it is critical 
                that we invest in our infrastructure and integrate the 
                preparedness efforts of our communities to improve our 
                ability to respond to and recover from the effects of 
                our changing climate and extreme weather events.

                This month, we pay tribute to the courageous 
                individuals who rush to the scene of disaster for their 
                dedication to our safety and security, no matter the 
                price. Let us recognize that each of us can do our part 
                to prepare for emergencies, help those affected by 
                disasters, and ensure all our people have the necessary 
                resources and knowledge to protect themselves. 
                Together, we will remain strong and resilient no matter 
                what befalls us.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim September 2016 as 
                National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans 
                to recognize the importance of preparedness and work 
                together to enhance our resilience and readiness.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-21754
Filed 9-7-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P