September is National Preparedness Month, aimed at encouraging everyone to prepare for emergencies and disasters. The American Legion’s National Emergency Fund Preparation Guide is one resource the Legion Family can use to be prepared.

The guide provides guidance on what American Legion departments and posts need to do before, during, and after an emergency or natural disaster.

The National Emergency Fund, created in response to Hurricane Hugo in 1989, has provided more than $10 million in direct financial assistance to American Legion Family members and posts. By providing this emergency funding, NEF has prevented damaged posts from closing and enabled American Legion Family members to recover from tragedy.

The fund provides up to $3,000 for qualified Legionnaires and SAL members and up to $10,000 for posts. The eligibility requirements are:

Applicant must have been displaced from their primary residence due to damage sustained during a declared natural disaster. Applicant must provide copies of receipts of items required to meet immediate needs (such as temporary housing, food, water, clothing, diapers, etc.) during the period immediately following the disaster. Membership must be active at time of disaster and the time of application. For more information, go to Legion.org/Emergency.