2024 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

Explore NACo’s Latest Resources

NACo works to ensure counties remain at the forefront of disaster preparedness, developing resources and facilitating peer discussion.

NACo’s February 2024 report, Counting the Costs Of Post-Disaster Reimbursement, illustrates the county fiscal impacts of federal disaster response. Because counties are the primary responders to disaster incidents supplying public safety, emergency management and rescue resources, the cost of response efforts are paid upfront using county funds. With expected reimbursement timelines of at least one year, counties are taking steps to maintain net positive cash-flow post- disasters to continue service delivery.

Since 2022, NACo, in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew), has worked to enhance intergovernmental coordination in disaster management. NACo has hosted three roundtable discussions involving county, state and federal leaders to facilitate dialogue and encourage novel approaches in disaster mitigation and recovery. Read the roundtable reports and more at our Intergovernmental Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Resilience resource page.

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.

Contact your Senators.

Contact your Representatives.

FEMA Advice & Resources

FEMA’s Ready Campaign offers a comprehensive toolkit of both general resources and those specific to the 2024 National Preparedness Month focus of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. 

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 Committees

The Resilient Counties Advisory Board (RCAB) connects county leaders and staff involved in disaster mitigation, 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.

NACo’s Justice and Public Safety and Environment, Energy & Land-Use Policy Steering Committees help shape the county platform around preparedness issues. Please contact your state association of counties if you are interested in joining. Learn more here. 

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.
• As part of National Preparedness Month, [COUNTY] will be [EVENT/ACTION]. We encourage you to participate and help contribute to our community’s readiness!
• This #NationalPreparednessMonth, @FEMA is highlighting preparedness measures for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. [COUNTY] is supporting that effort through [EVENT/ACTION]. Learn more at [LINK].
• This September, [COUNTY] recognizes #NationalPreparednessMonth with a reminder that community preparedness is born of our shared strength and readiness. Access local resources to help you prepare your family at [LINK].
• Counties are at the forefront of disaster preparedness and cross-government collaboration. This #NationalPreparednessMonth, [COUNTY] will be working with federal, state and local partners to strengthen our partnerships and keep our communities safe. Learn more here.