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Are you prepared?
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Phil Klingelhofer
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Aug 09, 2009 13:44 PDT
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Are you Ready? Are you REALLY Ready?
There is a disconnect in Virginia. People believe they are ready for
emergencies, but they are not. Consider this: although half of
Virginians think they are prepared, 71% do not have these four
essentials:
--Three days’ food that won’t spoil, such as canned goods and packaged
foods
--Three days’ water (one gallon per person per day)
--Working battery-powered radio with Weather Band and extra batteries
--Written family emergency plan
Do you have these items? This is a minimum list for being ready for
emergencies. This list is about survival … not about comfort. Of
course, you can add other things such as a flashlight and first aid kit
– and you should – but this list is the starting point for being
prepared.
September is National Preparedness Month. The goal for the month is to
help Americans understand what it truly means to be Ready. If you don’t
have three days’ food and water, a battery-powered radio and a family
plan, then you are not ready. National Preparedness Month is a great
time for you to begin.
Start with a family plan. You may not be together when an emergency
happens. Sit down as a family and plan in advance what you will do in
an emergency and how you will get in touch with each other. Write it
down. Go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov for a family plan worksheet. Making
a plan is free and simple and will make a difference.
During National Preparedness Month in September, you may hear and see
new Ready Virginia public service announcements on radio and TV stations
that remind us to take steps to prepare for emergencies in our homes,
businesses and communities. September is also prime hurricane and flood
season in Virginia. There is no better time for you to get ready. For
more go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov, www.ListoVirginia.gov and
www.Ready.gov
Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. Are you really
ready?
Prepared by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, August 2009
(804) 897-6510
Regards,
Phil Klingelhofer
BMCA President
(w) 703/302-1205, (h) 703/524-5438
"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or
last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory." -- Betty
Smith
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