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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 17, 2024 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-b <br /> SUBJECT: Orange County Preparedness Month Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Kirby Saunders, Director, 919-245-6100 <br /> Proclamation Sarah Pickhardt, Division Chief of <br /> Emergency Management, 919-245- <br /> 6100 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation declaring September 2024 as "Orange County <br /> Preparedness Month". <br /> BACKGROUND: National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family <br /> and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. The focus of this year's <br /> Preparedness Month is on empowering Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander <br /> communities to act today to prepare for future risks and disasters. <br /> North Carolina continues to experience an unusually high volume of disasters, to include severe <br /> weather, flooding events, and extreme temperatures. So far this year, Orange County has <br /> experienced multiple watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service for severe <br /> weather and flooding. The 2024 Hurricane Season outlook continues to be above normal in <br /> predictions for both severity and frequency of storms. <br /> Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities face unique barriers when it <br /> comes to accessing disaster preparedness information and resources that take their languages, <br /> experiences, and cultures into consideration. A 2024 Federal Emergency Management Agency <br /> (FEMA) survey of households across the country reported that 65% of Asian Americans and 58% <br /> of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders surveyed indicated that they did noy believe taking a step <br /> to prepare would make a difference and were not confident in their ability to prepare. The Asian <br /> American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Orange County have grown by <br /> over 22% since 2010. <br /> It is critical as a community to work together to ensure that all residents are connected and <br /> prepared to remain resilient in the face of future disasters. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the <br /> proclamation. <br />