Add President Obama to the the "prepper movement."

In a statement announcing "National Preparedness Month," the president said that the nation is on its own to react quickly to terror and disaster and citizens should prepare accordingly.

"Although my administration continues doing everything we can to keep the American people safe, it is each citizen's responsibility to be as prepared as possible for emergencies," said Obama last Wednesday.

"Preparing ourselves to meet the unknown challenges of tomorrow is a duty we all share, and when confronted with crisis or calamity, we need to have done everything possible to prepare," said Obama.

Included in the threats he said people face and should prepare for is climate change.

"Climate change poses an imminent and lasting threat to our safety and national security, and it is critical that we invest in our infrastructure and integrate the preparedness efforts of our communities to improve our ability to respond to and recover from the effects of our changing climate and extreme weather events," said the statement.

The full statement is below:

Americans have been tested by trial and tragedy since our

earliest days — but year after year, no matter the hardship, we

pull through and forge ahead. Fifteen years after the attacks

of September 11, we reflect on our strength as a Nation when

anything threatens us. Today, as the residents of Louisiana

mourn the loss of loved ones and face tremendous damage caused

by historic floods, we are reminded of what Americans do in

times like these — we see the power of love and community among

neighbors who step up to help in extraordinarily difficult

circumstances. Preparing ourselves to meet the unknown

challenges of tomorrow is a duty we all share, and when

confronted with crisis or calamity, we need to have done

everything possible to prepare. During National Preparedness

Month, we emphasize the importance of readying ourselves and our

communities to be resilient in the face of any emergency we may

Encounter.

Although my Administration continues doing everything we

can to keep the American people safe, it is each citizen's

responsibility to be as prepared as possible for emergencies.

Whether in the form of natural disasters like hurricanes and

earthquakes, or unspeakable acts of evil like terrorism, danger

can arise at unexpected times and places. Fortunately, there

are many things that individuals, families, and communities can

do to improve their readiness. I encourage all Americans to

take proactive steps to prepare for any situation that may

occur — including signing up for local alerts, checking

insurance coverage, documenting valuables, creating a plan for

emergency communication and evacuation, and having a fully

stocked disaster supply kit on hand. And I encourage those in

the business community to prepare their employees, develop a

business continuity plan, and engage in community-level planning

to help ensure our communities and private sector remain strong

when faced with an emergency. For information on how to better

prepare for emergencies that are common in your area, or to

learn about resources that may be available for increasing

preparedness, visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov.

In the face of unpredictable threats and hazards, we

are committed to improving access to information and raising

awareness of the importance of precautionary measures. Leaders

across our country should take the time to review the

2016 National Preparedness Report and find ways to address the

vulnerabilities it highlights. All Americans can play a role

in fulfilling our National Preparedness Goal by addressing the

risks that affect them and participating in preparedness

activities across our Nation.

We continue to collaborate with State, local, and tribal

partners, along with those in the public and private sectors, to

ensure that communities in crisis do not have to face these

dangers alone. In addition to coordinating relief efforts and

providing rapid response, we have focused on supporting the

needs of survivors, investing in affected neighborhoods, and

helping them rebuild their communities to be better, stronger,

and more resilient. Federal agencies are also working to share

resources with the public, promote the tools and technologies

that could help during disasters, and offer preparation

strategies. We launched America's PrepareAthon! to bring

communities together and help them plan for emergencies, and on

September 30, we encourage a national day of action to spur

preparedness efforts from coast to coast.

Disasters have become more frequent and severe as our

climate changes; both urban and rural areas are already feeling

the devastating consequences, including severe droughts and

higher sea levels, intense storms and wildfires, and more

powerful hurricanes and heat waves. Climate change poses an

imminent and lasting threat to our safety and national security,

and it is critical that we invest in our infrastructure and

integrate the preparedness efforts of our communities to improve

our ability to respond to and recover from the effects of our

changing climate and extreme weather events.

This month, we pay tribute to the courageous individuals

who rush to the scene of disaster for their dedication to our

safety and security, no matter the price. Let us recognize that

each of us can do our part to prepare for emergencies, help

those affected by disasters, and ensure all our people have the

necessary resources and knowledge to protect themselves.

Together, we will remain strong and resilient no matter what

befalls us.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the

United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in

me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do

hereby proclaim September 2016 as National Preparedness Month.

I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of

preparedness and work together to enhance our resilience and

Readiness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord

two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the

United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

BARACK OBAMA

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com