Every year nearly half of all Americans will make at least one New Year's resolution. The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) is asking citizens across our state to "Resolve to be Ready."

The "Resolve to be Ready" campaign was developed by the federal Department of Homeland Security, which is partnering with FEMA's Citizen Corps Program to encourage individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations to get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

In a recent national survey conducted by the Ad Council, 91 percent of Americans agreed that taking some simple steps to prepare for emergencies could help protect themselves and their families in the event of an emergency. However, only 54 percent had taken any of the three steps recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign, including getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan and being informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.

Remember-it is incumbent upon all of us to be prepared for any emergency-we all need to responsible for ourselves and more importantly, our children and our families.

For more information about personal preparedness, please visit
www.ready.gov.