Property Protection Group Urges Americans to Get Ready During National Preparedness Month

TAMPA, FL - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today urged all Americans to pay attention to vital information being highlighted and distributed for free during the next few weeks as part of National Preparedness Month (NPM), which is a core component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready Campaign. NPM is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals and communities to prepare for all kinds of emergencies.

“Being prepared for, and knowing what to do in case of emergency, whether the problem is man-made or due to Mother Nature, can make all the difference in the world when you only have seconds to act to save your life and property, and/or the lives of others,” said IBHS President and CEO Julie Rochman.

“This Friday, September 11, is a heartrending, important anniversary for Americans. Our nation will commemorate both the tremendous pain and the inspiring heroism we experienced in the face of one of the worst emergencies in United States history,” Rochman said. “At the same time, we will measure how far we have come since that day, how much we have learned and improved. As part of that commemoration, we each should take steps to ensure that our families and our communities are truly better prepared for, and protected from, future disasters.”

This year, the Ready Campaign is focusing on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and helping Americans understand what it truly means to be Ready.

To help people determine which natural disasters their home, business, and community faces - and how to prepare for and protect against those hazards - the IBHS Web site http://www.disastersafety.org/ offers a ZIP code-based tool that generates a list of location-specific risks. In addition, “how to” and “do it yourself” property protection projects are provided to help reduce the chances of loss from hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, windstorms, severe winter weather and hailstorms. There also is a video gallery on the Web site with examples showing how to perform many of these relatively easy tasks, and disaster planning resources for small businesses.

“IBHS’ mission is to provide home and business owners with proven ways to minimize risk and protect their property from both man-made and natural catastrophes,” Rochman continued. “IBHS is proud to work with DHS and all the members of the National Preparedness Month 2009 Coalition to help ensure Americans will be ready when the next disaster comes,” concluded Rochman.

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About IBHS

IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. For more information visit http://www.disastersafety.org/ or call toll free 1 (866) 657-4247.

About The Ready Campaign

February 2009 marked the Ready Campaign’s sixth year at the Department of Homeland Security. Launched in 2003 in partnership with The Advertising Council, Ready is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. It has proven to be one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council’s more than 60-year history. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY.

Contact:
Brenda O’Connor (813) 675-1043

Tagged as: DHS, IBHS, NPM, Property Protection

 

 

 

USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council

HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

NAR - National Association of REALTOR

RealtyTrac

FHFA - Federal Housing Finance Agency

Freddie Mac

MBA - Mortgage Bankers Association