Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

September 2009 was the 6th annual National Preparedness Month in the US, which is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and endorsed by President Obama, who “has made preparedness a top priority… to ensure a more resilient Nation.”

A Culture of Preparedness is “a set of values, priorities, patterns of conduct and behaviors that enable an adequate response to crisis”. Boosting the citizens’ and communities’ Culture of Preparedness was one of the three recommendations in the federal report following Hurricane Katrina.  

 In accordance, FEMA now launches an annual national advertising campaign (the ‘US Ready Campaign’), which this year involved nearly 2,700 organizations that promoted a Culture of Preparedness among homes, schools, businesses, and communities through appropriate preparedness activities, events, and training.

 A Culture of Preparedness may be the key for boosting Israel’s national and local resilience during emergencies (See: Civil Resilience Network). Similar to the U.S., the Government of Israel must play an essential role in promoting this culture, mainly through laying the legal foundations and creating incentives that will encourage preparedness in organizations, businesses and communities in Israel.

 The Reut Institute is currently working together with its partners to establish a ‘National Preparedness Week’ as part of the Annual National Home Front Drill, “Turning Point”.