National Preparedness Month 2026

September is National Preparedness Month. Each year National Preparedness Month is recognized to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning. Each year FEMA puts out a themed campaign during National Preparedness Month to bring attention to the need to prepare for potential disasters.

The Ready.gov website has a number of resources to help your community conduct disaster and emergency planning. A variety of handouts, guides, public service announcements, and a link to the FEMA app are all available through the website. Even if you are not in the midst of an emergency, having these helpful items downloaded, customized, and stored in an easily accessible location will save time in the event of a disaster.

Each year, Rural Resurrection typically provides at least a post or two related to preparing for disasters during the month of September. Here are a few links to previous National Preparedness Month posts:

• Nine Meals from Anarchy
• Remembering the Great Peshtigo Fire
• Emergency Action Plans for Community Events
• Get Ready to Apply for Disaster Assistance
• Tabletop Exercises Help with Disaster Preparedness
• Do you have an Emergency Archive?
• Communication is Key When Preparing for Disasters

Read up on disaster preparedness now so that you’ll be prepared for when disaster strikes. There’s a saying, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Preparing now will help your community take that punch and recover.