Agenda - 09-09-2004 - 6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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r ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 9, 2004 Action Agen a~ Item No. - SUBJECT: National Preparedness Month In Orange County DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proclamation Eric Griffin, 968-2050 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To designate the month of September 2004 as National Preparedness Month in Orange County. BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), The America Prepared Campaign, the American Red Cross, the National Association of Broadcasters and the United States Department of Education have joined a coalition of more than 50 national organizations to engage Americans in emergency preparedness by launching National Preparedness Month on September 9, 2004. The Orange County .Department of Emergency Management encourages all residents to use this time to educate their families about preparing for all types of emergencies. The recent devastation from Hurricanes Charley and Frances on residents of the southeastern United States, and Orange County's own experience with severe adverse impacts from the December 2002 ice storm should reinforce residents' understanding that they should be prepared at all times to maintain self-sufficiency for aseventy-two (72) hour period in case government or volunteer emergency responders cannot reach them to provide basic needs like food and water. Residents should maintain an emergency preparedness kit for their families to support them for that 72 hour period, at a minimum. The kit should include a NOAH weather radio to provide twenty-four hour notification of all hazards. Information on items to include in such kits may be found at the Department of Emergency Management's website at www.co.orange.nc.us/ems, or by calling the office at 919-968-2050. This month is also a good opportunity for residents to re-educate themselves about what to do during an emergency, revisit the family emergency plans, update the list of important telephone numbers, and double check the family emergency supplies kit.