September is recognized as National Preparedness Month. The 2026 theme, “Americans Stand Ready,” emphasizes personal responsibility, self-reliance, and the role individuals and families play in strengthening community preparedness.
The City of Coos Bay, through Coos Bay Fire & Rescue, supports National Preparedness Month by promoting emergency planning and Oregon’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program, which encourages households to prepare to remain self-sufficient for at least two weeks following a major disaster. Local preparedness efforts will also include Coos County Prepares, a community preparedness and safety fair being held September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pony Village Mall.
Throughout September, the City will continue sharing preparedness information and resources to help residents prepare for emergencies that may affect our community.
If it pleases the Council, approve the proclamation declaring the month of September 2026 as National Preparedness Month.
September is recognized nationally as National Preparedness Month (NPM), an annual campaign led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to promote individual, household, and community preparedness. The 2026 national theme, “Americans Stand Ready,” focuses on self-reliance, protecting family and friends, supporting first responders, and working together to strengthen communities.
Preparedness is particularly important in Coos Bay, where earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, flooding, severe weather, and extended power outages have the potential to disrupt normal services and limit access to outside assistance. Following a large-scale disaster, local emergency responders and resources will be focused on immediate life-safety needs, making individual and household preparedness an important part of the community’s overall response.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management continues to promote its Be 2 Weeks Ready program, which encourages households to have an emergency plan and enough food, water, medications, and other supplies to remain self-sufficient for at least two weeks following a major disaster. This is particularly relevant following a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, when transportation, utilities, communications, and supply chains could be disrupted for an extended period.
National Preparedness Month also provides opportunities for residents to learn directly from local emergency response agencies and community organizations. Coos County Prepares, a community preparedness and safety fair, will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pony Village Mall in North Bend. The annual event brings together local public safety agencies, emergency preparedness organizations, utilities, and other community partners to provide information and resources to help residents prepare for emergencies and disasters.
Throughout September, the City of Coos Bay, through Coos Bay Fire & Rescue, will also use social media, the weekly Friday Update, and other outreach opportunities to share preparedness information and encourage residents to take practical steps to become better prepared. The City continues its own emergency planning efforts to support community needs following a disaster.
Declaring September as National Preparedness Month recognizes that government and emergency responders cannot meet every need immediately following a large-scale disaster. A prepared community starts with residents who are ready to care for themselves, their families, and their neighbors until additional assistance becomes available. Adoption of the proclamation carries no fiscal impact, as preparedness activities are incorporated into existing programs.
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