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Don't Wait, Set a Date,
Resolve to be Ready in 2008
Nearly 50 percent of Americans will make at least one resolution as they begin the new year. The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) is encouraging all Ohioans to make a resolution that is both important and easy to keep: Be prepared for any emergency.
"Preparing in advance for an emergency makes sense," said ODPS Director Henry Guzman. "At the Department of Public Safety, we're working every day to ensure that Ohio is ready for any type of disaster. It is just as critical for individual citizens to know how to prepare for and respond to emergencies."
While 91 percent of Americans agree that taking some simple steps to prepare could help protect themselves and their families in the event of an emergency, only 54 percent have done so. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign and ODPS recommend following these three simple steps to help you and your family get prepared:
Get a Kit - Get a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to survive for at least three days in the event of an emergency. The kit should include basic items like water, food, batterypowered radio, flashlight and first-aid kit as well as addresses for any of your family's unique needs.
Make a Plan - Plan in advance what you and your family will do in an emergency. Your plan should include a communications plan and address shelter-in-place and evacuation options.
Get Involved - After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step: get training in first-aid and emergency response and get involved in preparing your community.
ODPS is encouraging citizens to log onto Ohio's preparedness website www.ready.ohio.gov to learn how to prepare families, homes and businesses for all types of emergencies including natural and human-caused disasters. Free materials, including family emergency plan templates and sample business continuity plans are available through the site. These materials will provide citizens with the tools to make a New Year's resolution that will bring families peace of mind.
ODPS works to increase awareness for preparedness year round because preparedness is important every day of the year. So, get a kit, make a plan and stay informed in 2008!
1/23/08
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