Governor Terry E. Branstad has proclaimed the week of April as 9-1-1 Education Month in Iowa.  911 Education Month is sponsored by the Iowa 9-1-1 Communications Council and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD). 9-1-1 Education Month is an opportunity to help all Iowans recognize the importance of 9-1-1 and the role they play in ensuring effective emergency response.

Robert Kempf, coordinator for Adair & Guthrie Counties emergency management programs, says “Iowa’s 9-1-1 Education Month is an opportunity to remind citizens of the importance of this powerful safety tool.” Both the U.S. Congress and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) have recognized April as National 9-1-1 Education Month.

Information and resources about 9-1-1 are available on the Ready Iowa website and also on the NENA website at www.nena.org under the “Education” tab. Kempf says “When calling 9-1-1, remember, stay calm, and be aware of your location so you can help 9-1-1 dispatchers locate you during an emergency.”

HSEMD will post information on 9-1-1 throughout the month of April to its websites, www. homelandsecurity.iowa.gov and www.beready.iowa.gov.