09/08/2026
Would you know what to do before help arrives?
Emergencies can happen fast, and first responders can’t always be there immediately.
One of the ideas behind this year's National Preparedness Month theme, Americans Stand Ready, is that preparedness isn't only about protecting ourselves. It's also about being ready to help the people around us.
And there are plenty of ways to get better prepared:
🩹 Take a first aid or CPR course.
🚨 Join a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and learn basic disaster response skills.
📚 Take one of FEMA's free online emergency preparedness courses.
🤝 Learn what you can do to help your family, coworkers, neighbors, and community when something goes wrong.
You don't have to be a professional emergency responder to make a difference.
Sometimes knowing what to do in those first few minutes can matter more than you realize.
Learn. Prepare. Stand ready.