Ready America, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is an “advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies … The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.”

It has a kids section at and a Spanish site.

Because September is National Preparedness Month, you might hear more about Ready in the media. The overall goal is to have individuals do three key things: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.

You can download ready.gov publications, and current content includes sections on preparedness for older Americans, military families, pet owners, and people with disabilities and special needs. Toll-free telephone numbers are 1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO.

Connecticut has its own department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Many towns and libraries have registered themselves (here) with Ready America, which gives access to a 51-page how-to manual on promoting disaster preparedness, posters, logos, a PowerPoint presentation, and web banners.