Ready Campaign “Seal of Approval” Usage
Ready is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national public service advertising campaign created in partnership with the Advertising Council, which is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The Campaign asks individuals to do three key things: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses. The goal of this effort is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.
The Ready “Seal of Approval” was developed to illustrate the unity of all federal, state and local citizen preparedness efforts. This unification is supported by the Department and called for in the White House Katrina Report which stated “The Federal government, working with State, local, NGO, and private sector partners, should combine the various disparate citizen preparedness programs into a single national campaign to promote and strengthen citizen and community preparedness.”
Criteria for Use
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s ReadyCampaign controls the use of the Ready “Seal of Approval.” The mark will only be provided to state and local governments for uses that meet the criteria outlined below:
- The Ready “Seal of Approval” can only be used on Web sites, brochures, books, pamphlets, flyers and other educational pieces.
- These educational materials must be developed, produced and distributed by or in partnership with state and/or local government organizations.
- The mark can only be used on materials and informationwhich are designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
- The emergencies referenced in the materials can include natural disasters and/or man-made emergencies including potential terrorist attacks.
- All materials bearing the Ready “Seal of Approval” must reference the three key steps called for in the ReadyCampaign: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
- The Ready “Seal of Approval” must be used in a manner and purpose that illustrates the unity of all federal, state and local citizen preparedness efforts.
- The mark must be used a way the meets the branding guidelines outlined by the Department.
Administration
If a government agency is interested in obtaining and using the mark they should submit a request in writing and provide copies of the materials where the mark would be featured to ready@dhs.gov. The Ready Campaign will work with the requesting state or local officials to review the materials, with input of other Department preparedness experts, and make any necessary changes to ensure it meets the criteria outlined above. If approved, the state or local government will be able to use the mark for as long as it desires, assuming no substantial changes are made to the materials. If in the future, changes are made these officials must resubmit their request to the Ready Campaign for its review and approval.
