September is National Preparedness Month and COG and its members are encouraging everyone in the region to be prepared for emergencies at home, at work, and when traveling.

Officials Talk Preparedness, Emergency Communication on Recent Radio Shows

COG Emergency Preparedness Council Chair and City of Falls Church Council Member David Snyder and Arlington County Deputy County Manager Jim Schwartz discussed the metropolitan Washington region's security in the post 9/11 era on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU on September 8. They shared regional coordination and emergency preparedness efforts, including how the region is preparing for security threats and terrorists attacks, and reminded residents to be prepared for emergencies.

The National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council (EPC), which convenes at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), represents numerous homeland security and management officials and disciplines across the District, Maryland, and Virginia.

Snyder said one way the EPC has helped enhance emergency preparedness in the region is by implementing a number of communication and information sharing technologies, such as the Regional Incident Communications and Coordination System (RICCS), a 24/7 system that allows officials to communicate during emergencies.

More: Listen to the interview with Snyder, Schwartz 

In addition, EPC Member and District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Geldart appeared on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on August 31 to discuss a recent 9-1-1 outage and new technologies. 

More: Listen to the interview with Geldart 

Emergency Preparedness Resources

COG and its members are posting preparedness messaging on social media throughout the month of September and directing people to helpful resources, such as: 

• Capitalert.gov - Sign up for free text alerts about where you live, work, and go to school
• Matoc.org - Familiarize yourself with traveler information resources like MD 511 and VA 511 
• Ready.gov - Fill out an emergency plan for your family and household
• #NatlPrep - Follow the hashtag on Twitter for up-to-date info and share how you are preparing for emergencies

More: Snyder offered tips and resources during an interview with WTOP.