[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 72285-72286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20123]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 72285]]


                Proclamation 10797 of August 30, 2024

                
National Preparedness Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Preparedness Month, we honor our first 
                responders for their bravery in helping us respond to 
                natural disasters, and we recommit to equipping 
                Americans with the resources they need to overcome the 
                climate crisis and bouts of extreme weather and emerge 
                stronger, more resilient, and more secure.

                Across the country, historic heat waves, flooding, and 
                fires have tragically claimed the lives of too many 
                Americans. These crises have impacted communities by 
                keeping children out of schools, hurting small 
                businesses, and destroying infrastructure--and they are 
                only getting more ferocious and costly with climate 
                change. Disasters affect people across our Nation, but 
                the most vulnerable among us typically bear the 
                greatest impacts--from housing insecurity to financial 
                hardship.

                My Administration has taken historic action to prepare 
                and protect communities and make our Nation more 
                resilient. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 
                and Inflation Reduction Act, we are investing more than 
                $50 billion in climate resilience, ensuring communities 
                can prepare for and recover from extreme weather 
                events. For example, we are elevating roads and bridges 
                over projected flood zones, and we are upgrading 
                buildings to make them stronger and more energy 
                efficient. We are also planting trees to protect 
                neighborhoods from extreme heat.

                Since taking office, Vice President Harris and I have 
                traveled across the country and directed our team to 
                meet people where they are when they need our help the 
                most. To that end, we have made substantial changes to 
                our Federal assistance policies, making it easier for 
                disaster survivors to receive much-needed support and 
                resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
                (FEMA) has expanded benefits for Americans applying for 
                disaster relief and simplified the disaster assistance 
                application process, reducing the burden on overwhelmed 
                families and individuals. My Administration also 
                secured $6.8 billion for FEMA under the Bipartisan 
                Infrastructure Law to support communities suffering 
                from disaster and avoid future disaster. In total, we 
                have provided hundreds of billions of dollars in 
                disaster relief funding to communities nationwide, 
                including FEMA public and individual assistance, Small 
                Business Administration disaster assistance loans, 
                COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and other 
                supplemental funds.

                There is still more work to do to improve the safety 
                and security of our country, so my Administration has 
                also taken steps to protect Americans' lives and 
                livelihoods. No American should worry about how they 
                will get the care they need if disaster strikes. That 
                is why we have expanded the Affordable Care Act and 
                lowered the cost of health care for Americans and 
                working families. We have also created new jobs that 
                strengthen our country and ensure that we have the 
                resources we need--especially in times of crisis. To 
                get prepared and learn more about how to keep your 
                family and community ready, visit Ready.gov or 
                Listo.gov for Spanish speakers.

                During National Preparedness Month, we recommit to 
                ensuring that our Nation is ready for any challenge 
                that comes our way. We support efforts

[[Page 72286]]

                to keep Americans safe, and we encourage optimism and 
                preparation for our shared future.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 2024 
                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 
                thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                ninth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-20123
Filed 9-4-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P