FORMER PRESIDENTS URGE AMERICANS TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

Presidents Bush and Clinton film Public Service Advertisements for the Ready Campaign

WASHINGTON - Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are urging Americans to take steps to better prepare themselves, their families and businesses for emergencies. The former presidents recorded two 30-second public service advertisements (PSAs) from New Orleans for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign. Ready is a national public service advertising campaign, produced by The Advertising Council that is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Slack Barshinger worked pro bono to develop the PSAs, which began airing nationally on May 23.

"We are honored to have former Presidents Bush and Clinton help us raise awareness about the important steps individuals and businesses should take to prepare for all types of emergencies," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "We hope these ads will encourage all Americans to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about the potential threats that could occur in their hometowns."

In both PSAs, the presidents remind Americans that events like hurricanes can be devastating, but there are steps individuals and businesses can take to limit the effects of emergencies. The presidents state that a little advance planning can help keep individuals, families and businesses safe. The PSAs encourage viewers to visit the Ready Web site, www.ready.gov, for resources that can help them be ready.

One of the PSAs is geared toward owners and managers of small and medium- sized businesses and stresses the importance of business emergency preparedness planning. The PSA explains that preparing now will not only help their business get up and running after an emergency, but help their community recover as well. The presidents urge business owners to visit www.ready.gov for free tools to help create an affordable emergency preparedness plan.

"We are proud to partner with the presidents to develop these PSAs to empower and educate all Americans to prepare for emergencies," said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO, The Advertising Council. "The presidents immediately took steps to provide relief and rebuilding resources following last year's hurricanes. They have joined together again to share this important preparedness message and help prevent future devastation by encouraging all Americans to prepare."

The presidents' PSAs are the latest ads for Homeland Security's Ready Campaign, one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council history, having received more than $532 million in media donations. As of March 2006, www.ready.gov has received more than 1.9 billion hits and 23 million unique visitors; 800-BE-READY has received over 256,000 calls; and more than 5.5 million Ready materials have been requested or downloaded from the Web site. To view these new PSAs, which will be distributed to television stations nationwide this week via FastChannel, visit the Ready Web site at www.ready.gov or the Ad Council Web site at www.adcouncil.org.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security promotes individual emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps as part of a broader national effort conducted by the Department's Preparedness Directorate. Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council in partnership with Homeland Security. The Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Individuals interested in more information about family and business preparedness can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive a "Get Ready Now" brochure. Citizen Corps, Homeland Security's grassroots effort, localizes preparedness messages and provides opportunities for citizens to get emergency response training; participate in community exercises; and volunteer to support local first responders. To learn more and to get involved, contact your nearest Citizen Corps Council by visiting www.citizencorps.gov.

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.

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