Are you prepared for a crisis? Do you have supplies to last for a couple of days if you lost electricity, water service, and had no access to a grocery store? September is National Preparedness Month and Verizon is supporting FEMA and its efforts to promote individual emergency preparedness at home, in your community and in the workplace.

We continue to be a leader in using our technologies to help keep our communities and customers safe, and informing employees on how to be prepared in case of a crisis is a matter we take very seriously. Throughout September, Verizon will

• Run this PSA from FEMA across our FiOS TV, online and Verizon Mobile screens throughout September. SInce 2009, all our PSA campaigns include a spot on Verizon FiOS TV, as well as banner ads that run on Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web service and Verizon websites. Last year we supported our PSA campaigns with more than $2 million in donated air time and ad space.
   
• Display preparedness information and tips for consumers and businesses across 25 Verizon-affiliated websites.
   
• Offer the National Preparedness Month Digital Toolkit 2.0, a website designed for wireless devices to help you stay prepared before, during and after a disaster. The toolkit is the result of a collaboration between Verizon, FEMA and the Industry Council on Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) and provides quick, usable tips and links to selected resources to the vast array of information available on Ready.gov.

Four Steps to Getting Ready

The goal of FEMA's Ready campaign is to get the public involved and increase the level of basic preparedness through four basic steps:

1. Be Informed. Visit the NPM Digital Toolkit 2.0 or the Ready.gov website for resources such as how to create a family emergency communications plan, how to contact family/friends during an emergency, and what to include in an emergency “go-bag"
    
2. Make a Plan. Discuss and agree on a plan with your family so everyone knows where to go and what to do in the event of a crisis
    
3. Build an Emergency Kit. Keep enough supplies on hand for your family and your pets
    
4. Get Involved. Major disasters can overwhelm first responder agencies. Learn how you can help lend support through various activities.

So be Ready! Call 1.800.BE READY or visit the NPM Digital Toolkit 2.0 and Ready.gov to learn more about the steps outlined above for keeping yourself and your family safe.