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r <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 2008 AS <br /> ORANGE COUNTY PREPAREDNESS MONTH <br /> WHEREAS, the month of September is recognized nationally as Preparedness Month by the <br /> President of the United States and Department of Homeland Security to raise <br /> awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Healthy Carolinians of Orange County Partnership's 2007 Community Health <br /> Assessment revealed that 53% of homes surveyed did not have a household <br /> emergency plan and that 56% of homes surveyed did not have all the essential <br /> items needed for a sudden evacuation; and <br /> WHEREAS, the September 2004 Rapid Community Health and Needs Assessment data <br /> collected by the NC Division of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control <br /> after Hurricanes Isabel and Charley showed that power outages caused by the <br /> storms restricted residents (especially those with lower incomes) from accessing <br /> medical care, food, and water; and <br /> WHEREAS, the month of September has in the past been a period of high hurricane and <br /> tropical storm activity for the State of North Carolina; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County has a strong emergency response system that includes <br /> emergency services, public health, social services, fire, rescue, law enforcement, <br /> UNC Health Care, water rescue, animal protection, public information officers, <br /> and citizen volunteer groups; and <br /> WHEREAS, multiple agencies within Orange County work in partnership and individually to <br /> educate the general public, businesses, faith and community based <br /> organizations about the importance of emergency preparedness; and <br /> WHEREAS, multiple agencies within Orange County work in partnership and individually to <br /> respond to and recover from local emergencies; and <br /> WHEREAS, proclaiming September as Orange County Preparedness Month will bring more <br /> attention to the need for individual and family preparedness among Orange <br /> County residents, and information provided during the month of September <br /> about emergency preparedness will be beneficial throughout the year; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim <br /> September 2008 as Orange County Preparedness Month. <br /> This the 19th day of August 2008. <br /> Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />