Coastal Carolina University is participating in America's PrepareAthon! -- a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience. CCU's PrepareAthon! Day of Action will host multiple agencies on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Prince Lawn.

The event will allow students, faculty and staff to interact with emergency response agencies that may respond to the campus during an emergency or disaster. The university community will learn how to build an emergency kit through the Emergency Kit Scavenger Hunt and win a free CCU T-shirt. Participants can also perform emergency response actions, try out emergency equipment, and pick up some sweet treats and free giveaways.

"September is National Preparedness Month, and we observed Hurricane Hugo's 25th anniversary on Sept. 21. This serves as an important reminder that it's not a matter of 'if' the next disaster will happen, but 'when,'" CCU's Emergency Management Director Carissa Medeiros said. "While Coastal Carolina University is committed to managing any emergency or disaster that may affect the university community, we can improve our ability to recover quickly when each individual is prepared."

Find more information about America's PrepareAthon! at ready.gov/prepare. To learn more about Coastal Carolina University's PrepareAthon! Day of Action, contact Medeiros at 843-349-5088 or cmedeiros@coastal.edu.