2005 Year in Review

Extension Helps in Disaster Preparedness

Source: Rick Atterberry, University of Illinois Extension, 217/333-5588 or ratterbe@uiuc.edu

Disasters kill hundreds of people, and injure thousands more, each year in the United States. A few steps to be prepared can help to keep you and your family safe. University of Illinois extension provides information to help you be better prepared for disasters.

September is National Preparedness Month, and Extension is a partner in this second annual campaign to reach out to communities in every state and help all families be better prepared. Co-sponsoring the effort, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross, state that in order for a community to be prepared for a disaster, every person in that community needs to take the steps to become disaster-ready.

Known for its helping residents in counties throughout the state, University of Illinois Extension is a valuable resource concerning disaster education. Through a nationwide network known as the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), your local Extension office is readily connected to expert materials in disaster preparedness, recovery and response from almost every land grant university in the United States.

Being disaster prepared is more than just knowing what to do in case of a tornado or a fire. It’s also about maintaining a 72-hour disaster supplies kit for your home, office and car; developing and practicing an emergency plan for your family; understanding your community’s warning systems and evacuation routes; knowing who to contact in your community for more information, and how you can get involved.

Disasters are like pop quizzes – most often they are unpredictable. If you are not ready, they can be devastating. The more you prepare, the better you will know exactly what to do and where to go.

No matter how much you have prepared, it is important to have a resource you can rely on for disaster education. Your local Extension office can be that resource. If you don’t know your local office number, look in the white pages under University of Illinois Extension, or point your browser to U of I Extension.

You can also visit EDEN for direct links to Extension and agency resources at the state or national level that can help you be disaster ready.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
August 29, 2005