SUBJ: FAMILY READINESS AND NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
1. THIS ALCOAST ENCOURAGES ALL MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD FAMILY TO
USE THE OCCASION OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER TO
ENHANCE FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR NATURAL DISASTERS, PANDEMIC FLU,
TERRORISM, AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.
2. OUR "READY COAST GUARD" CAMPAIGN ECHOES THE KEY MESSAGE OF THE
NATIONAL "READY AMERICA" CAMPAIGN: GET AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT, MAKE
A FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN, AND BE INFORMED. THIS YEARS NATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS THEME IS "PLAN NOW. WORK TOGETHER. BE READY."
EMERGENCIES WILL HAPPEN, BUT TAKING ACTION NOW CAN HELP YOU MINIMIZE
THE IMPACT THEY WILL HAVE ON YOUR LIVES.
3. OUR COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONAL READINESS AND MISSION EXECUTION
PREPARES US TO SAVE OTHERS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. MEANWHILE, OUR
FAMILIES MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SAME OR A SEPARATE EMERGENCY. AS THE
COUNTRY FOCUSES ON INCREASING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS, WE MUST ALSO BE
VIGILANT SHIPMATES IN THE OFF-DUTY ENVIRONMENT BY BEING READY AT
HOME. LETS PREPARE OUR OWN FAMILIES WITH THE SAME DILIGENCE THAT WE
USE IN PREPARING TO EXECUTE OUR MISSIONS. KNOWING THAT OUR FAMILIES
ARE SAFE AND SECURE, WE CAN FOCUS ON COMPLETING THE MISSION AT HAND.
4. AS HURRICANE SEASON CONTINUES AND SCHOOLS RECONVENE, NATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS MONTH IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TAKE A FEW SIMPLE STEPS TO
INCREASE AND REFRESH YOUR FAMILYS READINESS TO DEAL WITH THE RANGE OF
POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES. PREPAREDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS - WHAT STARTS WITH
ONE FAMILY CAN SPREAD THROUGHOUT A COMMUNITY, AND EVERY PREPARED
COMMUNITY FREES UP EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE
IN DIRE NEED. PLAN NOW. WORK TOGETHER. BE READY.
5. FOR TIPS ON GETTING YOUR FAMILY PREPARED TO MANAGE EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS, GO TO THE OFFICE OF WORK-LIFE FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM
WEBSITE AT WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE/READY.ASP. THE SITE OFFERS
DOWNLOADABLE EMERGENCY KIT CHECKLISTS AND EMERGENCY PLAN FORMS, AS
WELL AS LINKS TO OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND HELP, SUCH AS HOW
TO PREPARE AND MANAGE IMPORTANT PERSONAL AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE WWW.READY.GOV
WEBSITE.
6. THE COMMANDANT, MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD,
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD RESERVE FORCES, AND THE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE, AND THEIR WIVES, HAVE
PREPARED PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA) TO EMPHASIZE THEIR
SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE. THESE PSAS WILL RUN DURING EACH OF THE
FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER, AND CAN BE ACCESSED AT
WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE/READY.ASP.
7. WORK-LIFE PROGRAMS CAN ALSO ASSIST YOU IN ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT
DEVELOP BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER AN EMERGENCY. TO LOCATE THE
WORK-LIFE OFFICE NEAREST TO YOU, SIMPLY CALL 1-800-872-4957 AND
FOLLOW THE PROMPTS, OR GO TO WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE AND CLICK ON
"WORK-LIFE REGIONAL OFFICES." YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS THE COAST GUARD
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE AND WORKLIFE4YOU RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS
AT 1-800-222-0364 TO LEARN ABOUT AND OBTAIN VARIOUS FAMILY SUPPORT
SERVICES.
8. ENSURE THAT YOUR FAMILY IS AS PREPARED AT HOME AS YOU ARE TO
EXECUTE COAST GUARD MISSIONS. KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND PREPARED
WILL HELP ENSURE THAT YOU ARE READY TO FOCUS ON SERVING THOSE WHO
DEPEND ON THE COAST GUARD WHEN DANGER COMES. SEMPER PARATUS -
READINESS BEGINS AT HOME.
9. COMDT (CG-111) POCS FOR THE "READY COAST GUARD" CAMPAIGN ARE MR.
RODNEY WHALEY AT 202-475-5158 AND CDR MATT KLEIMAN AT 202-475-5145.
10. RADM MARK TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE
SENDS.
11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
