When an earthquake strikes Southern California, when a wildfire starts in your neighborhood, when your home fills with mud after a landslide, will you and your family be prepared to face that disaster? Get ReadyOC!
According to national averages, nearly 70 percent of citizens are not prepared for a major disaster and have no emergency kit or family action plan in place.
Despite the fact that Orange County is an especially disaster-prone area of the country, the unfortunate truth is that the majority of our residents are not prepared.
Just last month, my district experienced a 25-acre wildfire near Ortega Highway located in the Cleveland National Forest. Fortunately, through the swift and diligent efforts of our firefighters, the fire was contained quickly and did not damage any structures.
Yet, as we remember last year’s devastating Freeway Complex Fire and look ahead to fire season this fall, I am reminded again of the dire need for our citizens to be prepared.
This is why I have embarked on a month long initiative to increase awareness of the need to be prepared.
At the September 15 Board of Supervisors meeting, we passed a resolution declaring September 2009 as Disaster Preparedness Month for the County of Orange.
Additionally, I participated in a press conference that same day announcing the official launch of ReadyOC, the largest emergency preparedness initiative in Orange County.
The goal of ReadyOC is to educate and empower residents, businesses and schools to be prepared for natural and manmade disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, terrorism and more.
ReadyOC is a public service campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and is administered jointly by the Santa Ana and Anaheim police departments in collaboration with county and city emergency preparedness officials.
The new ReadyOC.org website is an online portal that provides access to a comprehensive array of emergency preparedness tools and resources from local and national organizations.
The website teaches Orange County citizens how to create an emergency kit, make a plan and be informed. It also offers live breaking news and allows residents to connect through social media channels and download videos and resources. The information on the website is specifically geared toward residents, businesses and even kids. The month long campaign will culminate with my second annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo taking place at the Mission Viejo Norman P. Murray Center on Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (see poster below). The event will feature interactive demonstrations, givaways, games, and even an assortment of emergency response vehicles for kids to explore including Orange County Fire Authority’s new firefighting helicopter. Everyone is invited to this free event. For more information, visit my website at www.ocgov.com.
Remember: what we do now will determine what our lives will be like after a major disaster. We can’t predict when a major emergency will strike, but we can be prepared for one – and there is no excuse not to be. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us.
(Editor's Note: Click on Pat Bates to visit her website.)