Governor Stein Proclaims North Carolina Preparedness Month

North Carolina Preparedness Month

2025

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, North Carolina’s weather in 2024 featured the costliest and deadliest tropical storm in our state’s history; and last year alone, North Carolina experienced severe thunderstorms with hail and damaging winds resulting in a record number of 42 confirmed tornadoes; and

Whereas, in 2024, North Carolina experienced record heat, deadly storms, and extreme weather resulting in more than 4,600 emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses – including 397 cases of heat stroke – plus more than 100 deaths from Hurricane Helene; and

Whereas, over the past 20 years, North Carolina has been impacted by 40 percent more tropical storms per year than the long-term average for 1850 to 2019, meaning the state has been hit by around 15 more storm systems than average during the past two decades; and

Whereas, communities across our state experienced wildfires, severe weather, damaging hail, high winds, and flooding, and many North Carolina communities are still working to recover from Hurricane Helene; and

Whereas, every community, business, family, and person in North Carolina must be ready for natural and man-made disasters, including tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, and public disturbances that might disrupt normal daily activities; and

Whereas, all North Carolinians can take a few simple steps – making a family disaster plan, creating an emergency supply kit, and staying informed – to help make preparedness and personal responsibility a priority in every community; and

Whereas, residents should help the elderly and those who cannot help themselves and include the safety of their pets and/or livestock in their emergency plans; and

Whereas, North Carolina Emergency Management has created a ReadyNC website in both English and Spanish, as well as preparedness videos in American Sign Language, and updated its ReadyNC mobile app to help residents become prepared; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Departments of Public Safety and Health and Human Services, the North Carolina Emergency Management Association, Citizen Corps, and the United States Department of Homeland Security have collaborated to recognize September as Preparedness Month to inform and educate North Carolinians about the importance of being prepared;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as “North Carolina Preparedness Month” and commend its observance to all citizens.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-first day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-fifth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.