I’m Rich Serino, Deputy Administrator for FEMA.

It may be hard to believe, but this Sunday, August 29th will be five years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast.

Sunday will be a day for reflecting, and remembering those we lost and the lives that were changed by this tragic storm.

It’s also a day to take stock of the recovery process in the Gulf Coast, and how far we’ve come as a nation at getting better prepared for hurricanes and other emergencies.

At FEMA, we’ve made a lot changes under the leadership of President Obama, Secretary Napolitano, and Administrator Craig Fugate.

These include coordinating with the Governors and local officials in all 50 states to ensure they have the resources and support they need to be ready for all hazards.

We’ve also prepositioned commodities at strategic locations around the country, and used pre-landfall Emergency Declarations to ensure a robust federal response – as well as give state and local officials access to needed resources when a storm’s approaching.

But it’s important to remember that FEMA is not the team – we’re just one part of the team.

That’s why we’re coordinating with all levels of government, as well as our partners in the private sector, faith-based and non-profit groups, and most importantly the general public to make our communities safer and more secure.

You can find steps for you and your family to get better prepared at www.Ready.gov.

As Hurricane Katrina reminded us, we may not be able to control when a hurricane or other emergency strikes, but we can make sure we’re ready.