National Preparedness Month, 2025

The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase the number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions.

"Tragically, over the last year, natural disasters have ravaged nearly every region of our country. In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Erin, catastrophic flooding in Texas, and blazing fires in California, countless families have borne power outages, severe structural damage, unthinkable injuries, and death. I send my thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have lost loved ones, and to all those who have been displaced and subjected to suffering. To every unsung hero who has helped with recovery efforts, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security launched the National Ready Campaign to promote preparedness through public involvement, by empowering Americans to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and manmade disasters. This year's theme focuses on getting back to the essentials of preparedness by taking small steps to make a big difference in being prepared.

Select Legislation

• American Relief Act, 2025 *
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (The Stafford Act) *
• 42 U.S.C. 68 - CHAPTER 68 - DISASTER RELIEF (Sections 5121 - 5208)
• 42 U.S.C. 5184 - Community Disaster Loans

Resources

• Explore Homeland Security’s ready.gov (English), and (Spanish) websites for numerous downloads to share on Disasters and Emergencies, Making a Plan, and Getting Involved. Also, take a look at their 2025 Preparedness Calendar, a planning tool that marks preparedness activities and provides customizable resources to help promote preparedness throughout the year.
• Check out Homeland Security’s educational resources for children, parents, and educators and, brochures and other free publications for you and your community.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) document "You Are the Help Until Help Arrives" teaches five simple steps that may save a life.
• The National Flood Insurance Program offers suggestions to make sure you know what your insurance policy covers before an emergency.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Clearinghouse is a central repository for emergency preparedness-related statutes, regulations, orders, reports, and legal tools. The Clearinghouse is intended to aid jurisdictions considering updates and clarifications to their public health emergency legal preparedness activities.
• Visit the U.S. Government Publishing Office Bookstore’s website to find more publications related to emergency and disaster preparedness.
• See the many ways to reduce risks from contamination, leaks, spills, hazardous materials, and other dangers on Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website .
• Check out the National Weather Service's (NWS) Awareness and Preparedness Calendar to search by State name to see weather safety events in your state.

*This links to a Statute Compilation, which is a compilation of the public law, as amended, and is an unofficial document and should not be cited as legal evidence of the law. Learn more.