November 2009 Themes for Community Outreach
National American Indian Heritage Month
To learn more about this heritage month, visit the U.S. Department of the Interior's Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service websites. A great way to honor the month is to meet with local Native American Tribal leaders to discuss ways to increase Native American involvement in local community preparedness and safety efforts, such as becoming involved in training programs like CERT. Recently, FEMA recognized the efforts of Native American working to prepare their community through the National Citizen Corps Achievement Awards program. To learn more about the winner of the 2009 Outstanding Tribal Citizen Corps Council Award, the United Tribes Technical College Citizen Corps Council, visit the Citizen Corps 2009 Awards page.
Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 1, 2009, is the official end of daylight savings time. With the turning back of the clocks this month, citizens will now have an extra hour to tackle emergency preparedness initiatives. Find creative ways to inform your community that they can take several steps to becoming more prepared for disasters during this "extra" hour. Preparedness related activities that take less than one hour include: packing a go-kit for each member of your family; changing the batteries in your smoke detector; creating a communications plan with your family; learning about your Readiness Quotient; or, talking to a friend or neighbor about what hazards you face in your community.
Veterans' Day
November 11, 2009, is Veteran's Day. Veterans have played a critical role in our history; make sure to reach out to veterans and ask them to get involved in building a future filled with resilient, prepared communities. To see how your community can connect with the National Citizen Corps Affiliates that represent veterans, visit the web sites of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Thanksgiving Day
This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26. Thanksgiving kicks-off the holiday season and reminds us of the importance of coming together with our families and communities. Take advantage of this time to spread the message of family and community preparedness. Encourage your family members to work with their neighbors to create preparedness plans and to become involved in community safety initiatives. For information on making a family preparedness plan visit Ready.gov and to learn how to get involved in local community preparedness, visit the Citizen Corps website.