From: Gloria G. Horning, Ph.D. Public Information Office
bracevista@bereadyalliance.org (850) 444-7041
One Bucket at a Time – 72 hours of Preparedness
In a major disaster, it might be several days before vital services are restored. Are you prepared?
We are now just in the heart of hurricane season and the recent severe storms and tornadoes at ravaged our Alabama neighbors should serve as a reminder to all Escambia County residents that each household needs to have a disaster preparedness plan. The first 72 hours after a disaster are critical. Electricity, gas, water and telephones may not be working. In addition, public safety services such as police and fire departments may not be able to reach you immediately during a serious crisis.
Each person should be prepared to be self-sufficient - able to live without running water, electricity and/or gas, and telephones - for at least three days following a disaster.
BRACE is partnering with Walmart to make it a little easier for you, your family and our homebound friends and neighbors to get equipped for the first 72 hours of a disaster.
Next Saturday, August 20 at Walmart on US 29 from 10 till 2p.m. BRACE and CERT members will be on hand showing you what you need in your emergency bucket and how you can help fill-up an emergency bucket for your homebound neighbors.
Don’t get caught without your “bucket”! The time is now – don’t wait until it is too late!
########
I remember – I serve
September is National Preparedness Month and this year we remember those lives lost 10 years-ago on 9-11, and salute those who serve as volunteers in our community.
YEP! – at Bayview Park in Pensacola from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
"BRACE knows that kids can save lives too, so this event will focus on educating children of all ages in their roles before, during and after an emergency," says Greg Strader, Executive Director of BRACE. "September is National Preparedness Month, so this will be a perfect opportunity to get kids and parents to prepare for emergencies together in an enjoyable and entertaining way."
This year we will pay tribute to the thousands of lives lost ten years-ago on 9-11 with a hands-on art project for everyone to participate in.
Other activities include a helicopter water rescue demonstration by the Coast Guard; interactive games from police, fire and hazmat trainers; touch a truck; rescue skills training appropriate for all ages; pet safety and more!
A special preschool section will teach parents and caregivers how to prepare for an emergency with infants and young children. Adults will also learn family preparedness, home mitigation techniques as well as tips on preparing for an emergency when you have pets. This is a pet-friendly event for the entire family.
Sponsorships and on-site vendor opportunities are now available. For more information on YEP!, contact DeAnna Poland-Stemock (850) 444-7035 or email BRACE@BeReadyAlliance.org.
### remember those lives lost 10 years-ago on 9-11, and salute those who serve as volunteers in our community. YEP! – at Bayview Park in Pensacola from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
On September 10, 2011, BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies) will host its second annual Youth Emergency Preparedness Expo –
Preparing Minority Populations
The United States is home to more than 308 million people, comprising many cultures and subpopulations — such as diverse and vulnerable groups of people — who may interpret messages differently or distrust the government. Perhaps no disaster has illustrated the need for emergency planning and preparedness with these communities to the extent that Hurricane Katrina did. Almost six years ago, the nation watched as more than 1,800 perished, 80 percent of New Orleans flooded and nearly 100,000 citizens remained in the water-ravaged city rather than evacuating.
A study of 1,089 people affected by the hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama found that 28 percent of those who didn’t evacuate couldn’t leave because of limited means, according to the nonprofit Fritz Institute. Of those who couldn’t evacuate for this reason, 71 percent said they had nowhere else to go, 37 percent didn’t have a car, and 36 percent couldn’t leave their homes without assistance. What’s more, 84 percent of those with limited means had household incomes of less than $50,000; 58 percent were African-American; 66 percent were women; 57 percent said their highest level of education was a high school diploma or less; and 32 percent had a physical disability.When preparing residents for disasters, officials must think not only about the different cultures within their community, but also about the vulnerable populations — the disabled, very young, elderly, homeless and people who speak limited or no English. Emergency managers and public health officials have wrestled with developing relationships with these groups for decades, and it’s still a challenge for many.
Luckily there are resources for officials to use; examples of successful initiatives can assist state and local agencies with their plans, helping them to reach as many people as possible in ways that create positive relationships and changes.
########
PRESCRIPTION DRUG ROUNDUP
CALL TO SEE WHEN THE NEXT ROUNDUP WILL BE HELD.
The “Prescription Drug Round-Up” is a one-day effort to provide the public a site to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted, unused pharmaceutically controlled substances, and other medications for proper destruction.
The April 30 2011 event featured ten locations with deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and officials from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection providing information on the environmental benefits and proper ways citizens should dispose of prescription drugs.
Walgreens Locations:
20 West Nine Mile Rd
2237 West Nine Mile Rd
4497 Mobile Hwy
5995 Mobile Hwy
870 E Cervantes
6314 North 9th Ave
Precinct 1, Pensacola Beach
43 Fort Pickens Road
Pensacola Beach32561
Precinct 2, Big Lagoon
12950 Gulf Beach Highway
Pensacola, Florida 32507
Precinct 5, Cantonment
5844 North Hwy 29
Molino, Florida 32577
Precinct 6, Century
7995 North Century Blvd.
Century, Florida 32532
For more information concerning the event, contact us at (850) 429-822, or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (850) 436-9277 or ECUA (850) 476-0480.
No comments:
Post a Comment