CLEARFIELD – President Ronald Reagan remarked in 1987 “No one can predict when the next river will flood or the next storm will hit. No one can foresee the next threat to the nations’ health. What is predictable is that we will face such threats and emergencies, and that the American Red Cross will be there to offer help and hope.”
September was National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross stands committed to help you each day to Be “Red Cross Ready” for disasters and life-threatening emergencies by urging you Get a kit, Make a plan, and Be informed.
A 2005 Red Cross survey indicated:
• Only two in ten American households have taken the initiative to receive specific information and/or training on how to prepare for a catastrophic disaster or other emergency situation in the past 12 months.
• The most cited reason for not taking the initiative to receive information or training is “Don’t know where to go/Not available.”
• Two-thirds of Americans polled feel it’s ‘Very Important’ to be prepared for a catastrophic disaster, but only one-tenth of respondents have taken the three recommended steps to be prepared: disaster plan, build a kit, and get informed.
Last year, nation-wide, the American Red Cross responded to 74,244 disaster incidents, providing financial assistance to 1,521,060 families Surely, not one of these people knew, even a week before, how their lives would be turned upside-down.
As the nation’s partner in disaster and emergency preparedness, the American Red Cross has seen the difference that preparing ahead of time can make on a person’s ability to respond to and recover from a disaster or first aid emergency. We want you to have the confidence and peace of mind that comes with being prepared. So this September, we invite you to join us as we celebrate National Preparedness Month to help get Jefferson County prepared!
Getting prepared doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. We’ve created a new online education module, which in just a few minutes will walk you through three steps you can take to “Be Red Cross Ready” for disasters and other emergencies: 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a plan and 3) Be informed.
The education module, available online includes downloadable checklists as well as disaster-specific information and preparedness tips for pets, seniors and people with disabilities. This information is also available as a brochure or community presentation through the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter.
Call Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter at 849-2712 to begin to make your home, your business, and your community a safer place to live.