History lessons help agency kick off National Preparedness Month celebration

History lessons from past natural disasters and terrorist activity helped employees of the Defense Logistics Agency kick off the National Preparedness Month observance at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Sept. 4.

This event marks the 13th year that DLA has commemorated National Preparedness Month since the observation's inception by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2004.

National Preparedness Month occurs every September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies to ensure individual, family and community safety. The focus of this year's HQC event was to provide proactive measures for employees to increase their preparedness and resilience to all hazards.

According to the Ready.gov website, the 2024 national theme is "Start a Conversation." Information presented on the website states talking about bad things that could happen during a disaster or emergency isn't always easy, but officials recommend the following actions to get the conversation started:

• Set aside a time when everyone is calm and relaxed.
• It may help to hold the discussions over a period of time so decisions aren't rushed and people feel more comfortable talking about the topic.
• Talk about steps you've taken to prepare and encourage others to ask questions about preparedness actions that might work for them.

Headlining the agency's conversation, DLA Emergency Management Program Manager James Johnston shared a scenario describing the aftermath of an electromagnetic pulse incident resulting in an electrical power outage over a 400-mile radius and coastal flooding.

Johnston urged attendees to have an emergency plan and a backup plan.

"It is during these times when everyone wishes they had taken the time to have a plan in place and purchased an emergency supply kit, something unfortunately an estimated 87% of Americans - the majority of us - do not have," he said.

He reminded the group that an emergency supply kit could be as small as a backpack or a hard-sided storage case.

Johnston encouraged those who already have an emergency kit to set a reminder on their cellphone calendar every six months to ensure flashlight and radio batteries are still working before an incident occurs.

He also challenged the audience to include their pets and the elderly when making family plans.

"In the case of a flood, make sure you have a plan to evacuate your pets and the elderly to safety," Johnston said. "Ensure that you have enough food and water for your family and pets for at least 72 hours, to include a gallon of water for each person per day for drinking and sanitation."

National Insider Threat Awareness Month celebrated

Since September is also National Insider Threat Awareness Month, the ceremony also gave the DLA Installation Management team a chance to ensure employees understood the importance of remaining vigilant.

Michael Chang, director of operations for TrapWire Inc., presented a brief titled "The Threats We Face Today," which highlighted historical events, , terrorist methods and how to report suspicious activity.

Chang informed the audience that history proves each attack follows a similar cycle.

"When they [terrorist] target a location, they don't just target one location, they study, practice, and conduct surveillance on multiple sites in the area for several years before carrying out their actions," he said.

Whether you see someone conducting surveillance around a security checkpoint or secure area on the installation or you are asked weird questions about your job or the agency's mission, Chang recommended reporting it immediately.

"If you see something and you don't like it, report it," Chang said. "Your one report may be a dot that connects to other reported dots so that they don't get away with future attacks against us.

"Download and submit your report using applications from the military services or federal agencies so that you can take photos and get your report in the hands of the appropriate authorities immediately," he added.

DLA Headquarters employees can report suspicious activity or behavior by clicking on the DLA iWatch button at the bottom of DLA Today (Common Access Card required), by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-767-4010.

After the event, representatives from the McNamara Headquarters Complex Antiterrorism Program, American Red Cross, Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services, and other community partners shared information and resources to help employees remain safe and survive a hazard.