2023 National Preparedness Month: County Participation Toolkit

County governments across America play a critical role in preparing for or recovering from major disaster events, including extreme heat, hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other emergencies. In honor of September as National Preparedness Month, the National Association of Counties (NACo) provides resources and solutions to strengthen county government capacity for disaster mitigation.

Participation Resources

Watch NACo’s Webinar

To learn about county solutions on how to build and sustain local capacity to secure funds, staffing and partnerships for disaster preparation, watch NACo’s recorded webinar Defining and Building Capacity for Disaster Mitigation. This event, which featured The Pew Charitable Trusts and county leaders, took place on Wednesday, September 20, 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. EDT.

Watch it here.

Build Intergovernmental Coordination

Read NACo’s new report identifying six key elements of local capacity and county-level solutions to build disaster resilient communities: funding, staffing, authority, partnerships, data analysis and education.

Find the report and related information at NACo’s Intergovernmental Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Resilience resource hub.

Pass a Resolution

Use this template to pass a resolution recognizing September as National Preparedness Month in your county.

Download the resolution template.

Engage Local Media

Spread the word to local media to highlight local efforts to address disaster resilience during National Preparedness Month.

Download a press release template.

Share with NACo

Let us know your county’s National Preparedness Month activities and other initiatives to mitigate disasters through this form. NACo would love to spotlight your efforts!

Share your efforts.

Advocate for Federal Policy Initiatives

Partner with NACo on our federal legislative advocacy to ensure counties have the resources necessary to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

More information can be found here.  

FEMA Advice & Resources

FEMA’s Ready Campaign offers a comprehensive toolkit of both general resources and those specific to the 2023 National Preparedness Month theme of Preparing for Older Adults.

Support Seniors

Learn about risks older adults face and how best to support them during times of an emergency in FEMA’s multi-lingual resources for older adults, available here.

Avoid Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers this one-page document to distribute to your residents with practical advice for spotting and avoiding scams. The FTC also offers a portal to report fraudulent activities here.

Listen to Community Stories

Host key stakeholders and county residents with lived experience of disasters and impactful insights to inform local decision making. By including state and federal policymakers in these discussions, county leaders can advocate for preparedness priorities and highlight specific challenges in local capacity.

Build Local Partnerships

Form strategic partnerships with industry leaders, service providers, local universities and neighboring counties to maximize resources and capacity.

Participate in NACo’s Committee

The Resilient Counties Advisory Board (RCAB) serves to connect county leaders and staff who are involved in disaster mitigation and recovery and environmental resilience. Members have access to monthly committee meetings, an opportunity to share experiences and learn from your peers and guest speakers. Please contact committee@naco.org to learn more.

Post to Social Media

Post about National Preparedness Month and highlight your county’s activities on social media. Use the template posts below and download our graphics package here.

This September, [COUNTY] joins communities across the nation in recognizing National Preparedness Month. By learning and working together, Americans can be ready to withstand any disaster event.

We hope you will join [COUNTY] in recognizing September as #NationalPreparednessMonth. By preparing for the future, we honor the bravery of our first responders and safeguard our community.

Older adults can face higher risks during extreme weather events and other emergencies. This #NationalPreparednessMonth, [COUNTY] is joining the effort to ensure all members of our community can access preparedness resources they need and deserve.

As part of National Preparedness Month, [COUNTY] will be [EVENT/ACTION]. We encourage you to participate and help contribute to our community’s readiness!