September 01, 2009

Alabama Celebrates “National Preparedness Month”

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley is encouraging Alabamians to remember September 2009 as “National Preparedness Month” and to ensure they are ready for any type of disaster.

“We never know when a disaster will strike Alabama,” Governor Riley says. “But we do know how to lessen the impact on ourselves, our families and our communities and that is by being ready.”

To “be ready,” a family needs an emergency supply kit, a communications plan and the ability to listen to warnings and announcements. An emergency supply kit should include a three day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food. Citizens should also have important documents, medications, hygiene products, a battery operated flashlight, extra batteries, comfortable shoes and raingear and any special care items for the entire family.

Alabama will be sharing readiness information and celebrating “National Preparedness Month” during several events throughout Alabama this month. The following is a listing of scheduled events:

• Be Ready Day: Thursday, September 3. The 2009 Be Ready Day will be held in Florence at McFarland Park. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. Governor Riley will be speaking at the Be Ready Day program which starts at 12:45 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Hundreds of emergency first responders, volunteers and faith-based organizations will use interactive tools to teach kids and adults how to be prepared.

• Be Ready Camp: Over 160 Alabama sixth-graders will travel to Huntsville to learn the jobs of first responders. The two camps, held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center September 8-12 and September 15-19, will teach children first aid, search and rescue techniques, and communications during a disaster. The media is invited to see the mock disaster where the students put on emergency response gear and practice saving lives from a plane crash. The mock disasters will be Friday, September 11th and September 18th starting at 6:15 p.m.

• September 11th Day of Remembrance Ceremony: Friday, September 11: The Serve America Act, signed into law April 21, 2009, declares September 11th as an annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. Alabama will hold a special service at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville at 5:30 p.m. Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker and Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Sydney Hoffman will lead the service. They will be joined by active soldiers, local first responders and local dignitaries.

• Be Ready Sunday: Sunday, September 27: In an effort to spread the preparedness message to all places, houses of worship are being asked to deliver the “Be Ready” message by inserting information in bulletins and on web sites.

These events and programs are sponsored by Governor Riley, the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. For more information on the Be Ready Alabama Campaign, visit www.readyalabama.org.