News  Celebrating National Preparedness Month

Governor Charlie Baker recently proclaimed September 2022 as Emergency Preparedness Month in Massachusetts. This proclamation aligns with National Preparedness Month, a time to bring awareness to emergency and disaster preparedness. Governor Baker named the Massachusetts Office on Disability in the proclamation alongside several partner agencies and organizations working to make Massachusetts residents better prepared for emergencies.

“People with disabilities – especially people of color and low-income individuals with disabilities – can be especially vulnerable in unexpected emergencies and disasters. Proactively creating an accessible, individualized emergency kit and plan can make a world of difference,” said Mary Mahon McCauley, Executive Director of MOD.

MOD has an ex officio seat on the State 911 Commission and works closely with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to ensure that all residents and visitors in Massachusetts remain as healthy and safe as possible regardless of their abilities or disabilities during emergency situations.

MOD also provides emergency preparedness trainings for seniors, people with disabilities, local emergency planners, and first responders. This month, MOD hired Abigail Shneyder as the new Personal Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator. She shared: “I am excited to carry on this important work, ensuring residents all across the Commonwealth are prepared in the face of emergency. I cannot wait to take our trainings to many more of the 351 towns and cities across my home state!” Visit our Emergency Preparedness page to learn more and sign up for a training.

Follow MOD on Twitter for quick tips for emergency preparedness this month.

Whereas, The Commonwealth’s experience with, and susceptibility to severe weather and natural hazards such as floods, blizzards, hurricanes, and tornadoes, compounded by the continued risk of pandemics, terrorist attacks, and other hazards, both natural and human-made, demonstrates the ongoing need for the state's residents to take steps to prepare for a broad range of emergencies; and

Whereas, The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, including the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts State Police, Department of Fire Services, and the Massachusetts National Guard; the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, including the Department of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health; the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, including the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agricultural Resources, Office of Coastal Zone Management and the Department of Public Utilities; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; and other local and state partners, have the responsibility to protect public safety, health, and property, and minimize injuries and the loss of life by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and emergencies; and

Whereas, The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Public Health, the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, and other public and private partners such as the Massachusetts Office on Disability are promoting personal, family and community preparedness in the month of September to build resilience, help reduce casualties, and minimize the economic impacts of disasters in our communities and in our state; and

Whereas, Emergency preparedness is the responsibility of every resident of the Commonwealth, and families, individuals, organizations, and communities are encouraged to take simple steps to make preparedness a priority by creating or updating a disaster plan, building an emergency supply kit, and preparing homes and businesses for all types of emergencies; and

Whereas, All residents of the Commonwealth are encouraged to participate in preparedness activities and use the preparedness resources at www.mass.gov/ready,

Now, Therefore, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim September 2022, to be,

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of September, in the year two thousand and twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-sixth.

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

Charles D. Baker

Governor of the Commonwealth

Karyn E. Polito

Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth

William Francis Galvin

Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts