(ATLANTA) – November is Infrastructure Security Month across the nation, and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has committed to participate in this effort of focusing on the importance of our nation’s critical infrastructure.

“Our agency shares in the responsibility of keeping our critical infrastructure and communities secure and resilient,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings. “That’s why we are taking this opportunity to bring awareness to this effort.”

This year’s theme is “Infrastructure Security is National Security: Together we can Drive Down Risk, Build Resilience.” Critical infrastructure runs the gamut from healthcare, water and education to chemical, transportation, energy systems, and much more, and is interdependent with all essential services and critical functions that keep our country and our economy running. Therefore, Keeping the nation’s critical infrastructure secure is important to our national security.

National security and economic prosperity are increasingly dependent on critical infrastructure, which is at risk of a variety of hazards, including natural, man-made and cyber. Therefore, security and resilience require a clear understanding of the risks we face, along with a whole‐of‐community effort that involves partnerships between public, private, and non‐profit sectors. We all play a role in keeping our critical infrastructure strong, secure, and resilient.

GEMA/HS facilitates the protection of life and property against manmade incidents by directing the State’s efforts in the areas of prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. A combination of programs are implemented and managed by the Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Unit to achieve these goals. For more information, visit our website at GEMA/HS CIKR.

###

As part of the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency collaborates with local, state and federal governments in partnership with private sector and non-governmental organizations to protect life and property against man-made and natural emergencies. GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia website and preparedness campaign provides Georgians with the knowledge needed to effectively prepare for disasters. Go to gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia for information on developing a custom emergency plan and Ready kit.