Photo By Emily Myers | APG Emergency Managers, Essie Washington-Bennett and Andrew Perry pose next to their...... read more read more
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md.— As September ushers in the 2026 National Preparedness Month, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is calling on Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, contractors, and family members to ensure their households are prepared for any emergency.
This year’s theme, "Americans Stand Ready," emphasizes the vital connection between personal preparedness and community resilience. The campaign aims to foster a fully informed and engaged APG community that understands safety and preparedness are essential to sustaining installation readiness and mission resilience.
“The theme drives a campaign focused on proactive self-reliance, family protection, and community resilience before disaster strikes,” said Essie M. Washington-Bennett, APG emergency manager.
As a critical research, development, and testing hub, APG relies heavily on the individual readiness of its workforce to support national security. When personnel have secured households and rehearsed emergency plans, the installation can withstand disruptions and maintain focus on critical tenant missions.
Emergency management is not merely an administrative checklist, but an indispensable element of force protection.
"Readiness starts at home," Washington-Bennett said. She emphasized that "standing ready" means every segment of the community takes shared responsibility by knowing local risks, maintaining 72-hour emergency sustainment kits, and participating in installation alert tests.
To ensure rapid communication during a crisis, APG will conduct a mandatory 100% test of the Alert! Mass Notification System this September. Personnel must immediately execute their pre-established family communication plans upon hearing an alert and verify instructions via official garrison platforms.
The APG community must remain vigilant against severe weather events, storms, and local environmental hazards common to the Harford County and Chesapeake Bay region.
For military families experiencing frequent moves, rapidly establishing a localized emergency plan upon arriving at APG is critical. In partnership with Corvias Housing, APG Emergency Management provides resources to help new and current residents adapt quickly by following these core steps:
A cornerstone of personal preparedness is the "Go-Kit." Every family must maintain a refreshed 72-hour emergency sustainment kit ready at a moment's notice.
Washington-Bennett noted that community members must also tailor their kits to accommodate unique household needs, including pets, medical requirements, and vital document protection. Essential items to include are:
Throughout September, APG is executing a high-visibility, installation-wide preparedness campaign designed to reach 100% of the community. By distributing comprehensive emergency materials and positioning readiness displays throughout workplaces, the garrison aims to reduce the initial strain on first responders.
APG aligns its emergency management planning with Harford County and FEMA Region III, ensuring that long-term infrastructure recovery and immediate crisis response go hand-in-hand.
Through these coordinated efforts, the APG workforce, mission partners, and families will remain vigilant, prepared, and actively involved in maintaining a safe and secure installation environment.
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2026 08:21 |
| Story ID: | 573647 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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