Safe America Prepared

Efforts to educate and train in disaster preparedness have been developed through government and numerous safety organizations—especially since 9/11.

9/11 Drill Down for Safety is program designed to utilize existing resources for individuals and families to create local practice drills. The challenge is to engage the public in a meaningful way to enhance national preparedness in perpetual readiness drills. The four elements include:

Public Information Campaign on the importance of practicing preparation through drills in cooperation with national media, private sector experts, retailers, and existing government agencies.

Public Commitment to Execute a Drill during the weekend of September 11 to identify and promote opportunities for business, family and community exercises in selected cities and across the nation.

Test Drills in each of the FEMA regions organized through corporate.

Research to develop next steps in changing public reluctance prepare for disaster resiliency.

OBJECTIVES—The Safe America Foundation will focus on three objectives:

1. Establish a new paradigm in which Americans and the Private Sector provides leadership to encourage practice drills responding to disasters.
2. Conduct a demonstration drill in each of the 10 FEMA regions.
3. Raise public awareness for the need to practice communication responses and develop plans to mitigate the catastrophic outcomes created by disasters.

GOALS—The objectives are accomplished through a series of stretch goals which include:

1. Engage youth in creating an urgency in championing readiness with their families while developing life-long preparedness skills.
2. Encourage annual corporate drills with results providing measurement of improvement.
3. Identify corporate partners to provide resources for media, education, and public awareness.
4. Identify retail partners to promote the concept and products that fulfill preparation guidelines.
5. Fund research to determine ‘what works’ in motivating individuals and families to prepare.

ORGANIZATION—The current project organization and program development progress includes:

• Organize a National Steering Committee including regional government agencies, Motorola, UPS, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (BCLC), International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), National Association of Emergency Managers (NEMA), National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC), National Association State EMS Officers (NASEMSO), National Association of EMT's (NAEMT), American Logistic Aid Network (ALAN) and other national non-profits.
• Coordinate with national, state and local governments.
• Recruit executives from over 100 major firms to participate in briefings initiated in Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, and other designated cities.
• Develop an interactive website developed to reach school age children and enlist them in “Kids Prepared” activities and education.
• Create awareness through national media including production of TV spots and PSAs.
• Utilize social networking on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, and Flickr.
• Develop educational training programs through webinars, briefings, and online access.
• Develop complimentary practice strategies and preparedness resources with existing FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security information.