September 9, 2004

From: Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman

To: All USDA Employees

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has designated September as “National Preparedness Month.” USDA is pleased to join the Department of Homeland Security and other partners in activities to make sure that plans are in place to keep our families, workplaces, homes, and schools safe and secure.

I encourage each USDA employee to spend time this month reviewing preparedness resources. Revisit USDA’s web site, <http://www.usda.gov/oo/beprepared/>, which contains current operating status, emergency contact numbers, and evacuation information for employees. Other useful sites are the Department of Homeland Security web site at <http://www.Ready.gov> and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management emergency information at <http://www.opm.gov/emergency/>.

On September 21, all USDA headquarters employees are invited to stop by USDA’s National Preparedness Day event in the South Building Cafeteria, where they can learn more about steps they can take to prepare for emergencies.

Throughout September, other events will offer information on emergency preparedness. USDA will continue to hold shelter-in-place drills and town hall meetings at facilities in the National Capital Region, to ensure that all employees are familiar with emergency procedures. Similar activities at USDA facilities nationwide are strongly encouraged.

Being prepared for any emergency, whether natural or man-made, is a shared responsibility and applies to us wherever we are - where we live, work, learn and play.