“It is just horrific. It is like a war zone… I can’t quite comprehend it – we came away for holiday.”

– Nicola Barton, Survivor of 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

As Americans across the country head into the final stages of summer, many of us are finally gearing up for that much needed vacation. From finding pet-sitters, to setting out-of-office replies, there are many ways that we prepare our homes and our home life for a vacation. It’s vital to remember that emergency preparedness is important even when you travel—life doesn’t take a vacation, and neither do disasters and emergencies.

Whether traveling domestically or abroad there are many disasters, both man made and natural, that you should be mindful of and prepare for prior to traveling. This week, we’re sharing tips and resources for the community to consider when traveling as well as asking the community to share any advice they may have. 

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 We’re always on the look out for members and organizations to feature in our weekly newsletter. From highlighting your accomplishments in preparedness and emergency management, to members just looking for advice and input, we want to hear from you!

 Want to be featured in our Member Spotlight? Submit your story here!

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                     2014 National Preparedness Month Theme Announced!

The theme for National Preparedness Month is “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”.

 We’ve already started a 2014 National Preparedness Month thread in the NPC Member Discussion board, discussing NPM 2014 and to provide a space to share any preliminary plans or questions the community might have. Head over toReady.gov/September for more information about National Preparedness Month, including weekly break-downs and many other resources as we move towards September!

2014 National Preparedness Month logo and toolkit coming soon!