For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2006

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

Missouri residents urged to prepare in advance for emergencies

We interrupt this programming for a test of the Emergency Broadcasting System. This is only a test. If this were an actual emergency, you would be instructed to . . . Take a moment and finish that thought. If faced with a real emergency what would you do? Are you prepared? Does your family have an emergency plan?

Now is time to answer these questions and prepare your family – before an emergency happens. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Ready in 3 emergency preparedness program can help. “I urge residents to take just an hour out of their busy schedules to make a family emergency plan and prepare an emergency kit. The severe thunderstorms and devastating tornadoes over the weekend were a sobering reminder that emergencies can affect anyone, anytime. Being prepared to act quickly and having plans and supplies in place can eliminate some of the stress in a disaster situation, ” said Julie Eckstein, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Missourians are not strangers to tornadoes, fires, floods, storms and power outages that can leave little time to gather the essentials needed if they must leave their home, and they might not have enough supplies on hand if they have to remain in their home for several days. By assuring that supplies such as adequate water, nutritional foods, and essential medications are available, families can maintain their health and well-being throughout an emergency.

“March is designated as Preparedness Month, and marks the beginning of severe weather season,” added Eckstein. “This is a good time to talk about your family's plan and put together the supplies that may be needed in the event of any type of emergency situation.”

The department's recommendation is part of its Ready in 3 emergency preparedness initiative to remind Missourians of what they can do at home, school, and work to prepare for emergencies. Every individual and household has a critical role to play in emergency preparedness. Ready in 3 provides three simple steps to prepare for an emergency situation:

  1. Create a plan for you, your family, and your business. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to get to a safe place and find each other in the event of an emergency. Decide on two family meeting places, one in your neighborhood and one farther away if you have to leave your community. Have all family members contact the same out-of-town friend by telephone because it might be easier to make a long-distance call than a local call during an emergency. You should have a plan for two situations – staying home or leaving – depending upon the type of emergency.
  2. Prepare an emergency kit for your home, car, and at work. During an emergency you may not be able to get food or water for days or weeks and your electricity may not be working. Put together an emergency kit and keep it in a container that can be easily carried if you must leave home. Your kit should contain:

The department recommends checking and changing batteries in flashlights and radios, and replacing water every six months. Also, check the expiration dates on any food, and replace items past their due dates.

  1. Listen for information about what to do and where to go during an actual emergency. It is important to stay calm in an emergency and get as much information about the situation as possible. Listen to the radio for updates and instructions about what you should do. City, county and state officials have developed emergency plans, and it is important to follow their directions.

The Ready in 3 Family Safety Guide explains these steps in more detail and provides an emergency kit checklist and family plan. The booklet is free and available in multiple languages. Missouri residents are urged to order a copy of the booklet on-line at www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3/ or by calling the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 573-526-4768.

The health department is working with other state agencies, local public health agencies, the Missouri General Assembly, schools, community groups and faith-based organizations to improve Missouri's ability to respond to a public health emergency. “The purpose of this program is to help Missourians be ready should a major public health emergency or terrorism attack occur. We can't predict what will happen, but we can be prepared,” said Eckstein.

The United Pentecostal Church International in Hazelwood, Missouri knows that Missourians rely on people of faith for help and advice, even more so in times of trouble. Faith-based organizations play lead roles in local communities around the state by helping its most vulnerable people. “The resources and tools provided through the Ready in 3 program have given us the opportunity to educate our congregations, employees and their families about steps they can take now to prepare for emergencies of all kinds. This program clearly defines steps Missourians can take to protect their friends and family when an emergency does occur,” said Mary Loudermilk, Human Resources Assistant of the United Pentecostal Church International in Hazelwood.

Public and parochial schools throughout Missouri are participating in the program during March and will be providing Family Safety Guides to their students. Teachers are using the booklet and other school resources as a teaching tool, and many schools are planning special preparedness activities during March - designated as preparedness month. Students in 9th through 12th grade enrolled in a lifestyles class at Platte County High School in Platte City, Missouri are using the Family Safety Guide emergency kit checklist to prepare emergency kits of their own. “We have to make sure our students are safe and prepared in the event of anemergency. The Ready in 3 program is valuable to people of all ages – students, teachers, parents – everyone,” said Tammy Riley, Lifestyles Education Specialist at Platte County High School.

The Ready in 3 Family Safety Guide and family plan will soon be in the hands of every parent in Greene County, Missouri, enrolling a child in kindergarten for the 2006 school year. "The Ready in 3 Family Safety Guide offers parents easy steps to prepare for emergencies. We are fortunate to work with schools that recognize the importance of preparing for emergencies and that are both enthusiastic and cooperative about partnering with us in this and other public health education endeavors," said Jaci McReynolds, Public Health Information Specialist with the Springfield/Greene County Health Department.

The Ready in 3 program is part of DHSS' ongoing effort to improve the state's ability to respond to a public health emergency or biological, chemical, or nuclear event.

“Our challenge is convincing Missourians that every individual, every family, every household has a critical role to play in emergency preparedness. Prepared Missourians increases the effectiveness of the response to any disaster,” said Eckstein.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' web site at www.dhss.mo.gov.

 

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