September is National Preparedness Month, also National Wilderness Month

President Barack Obama proclaimed September as National Wilderness Month yesterday on the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, which protects pure land from being touched by any hint of development. Even areas within protected National Parks are declared as wilderness to stop government agencies from building roads, hiking paths or visitor centers.

"This pioneering law created a framework for bringing Federal public lands under additional protection," Obama said in his proclamation. "Forty-five years ago, the United States achieved a landmark success in protecting these magnificent wild spaces. The Congress passed and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act, which sought to secure 'for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.' The Act has been widely recognized as one of our Nation's most important conservation laws."

In the Angeles National Forest, where the Station Fire has burned 148,258 acres so far, two wilderness areas exist totaling 80,000 pure acres. One of those areas, the San Gabriel Wilderness, has burned in the fire. Speaking of which (and since it's Emergency Preparedness Month) do you have an emergency kit with your 10 basics ready to go? After all, we are scheduled for a major earthquake (drill) on Thursday, October 15th at 10:15 a.m.