September is National Preparedness Month. And as disasters continue to affect regions across America each year, USDA will participate in this year's America's PrepareAthon! to discuss how USDA can help you prepare your home, your family and your community for when disaster strikes.
Our goal during National Preparedness Month is to help you prepare through a variety of activities.
Be sure to join USDA for a Twitter chat aimed to empower individuals and communities with the information needed to be prepared for any disaster. USDA's mission is broad and offers assistance before and after disasters. USDA experts from all over the department will be discussing a host of topics that range from how to help protect your home from wildfire to what you can do to prepare for winter storms and how to be food safe when the power goes out.
Tune into @USDA and follow along with #NatlPrep on Monday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PT) to learn how USDA can help YOU prepare your family and community if a disaster strikes.
And if you happen to be near USDA headquarters on Sept. 12, you can meet with USDA and FEMA disaster preparedness experts in person at the USDA Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Smokey Bear will be making a special appearance as well. The USDA Farmer's Market is located at 12th St. and Independence Ave., SW, near the Smithsonian (blue/orange line) Metro stop.
Launched in April 2014, America's PrepareAthon! is a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises conducted at the national level every fall and spring.