WHEREAS, the State of Maine is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting the state; and

WHEREAS, Community Risk Reduction is a proactive and comprehensive approach to identify, assess and mitigate risks such as fires, falls, car accidents and more; and

WHEREAS, several communities in Maine have implemented successful risk reduction programs, including a community paramedicine program that connects local EMTs with seniors to address hazards in the home and access food and financial resources, a fall prevention program that provides sand in the winter to seniors and individuals with disabilities, and wildfire risk assessments for home owners in forested areas; and

WHEREAS, this proactive approach to prevent injuries, fires and medical emergencies will keep first responders safer and lessen costs for individuals, municipalities and the state in the future; and

WHEREAS, thanks to the new Statewide Risk Assessment Plan developed by Maine’s Community Risk Reduction Collaborative, local governments and emergency management professionals now have the framework to develop more tailored risk reduction plans in their own communities to help prevent emergencies and keep the public safe;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of January 26 through February 1, 2025 as

Community Risk Reduction Week

in Maine, and I urge all citizens to learn about the steps they can take to keep themselves and their community safe.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty second day of January Two Thousand Twenty-Five