Joint Public Information Release Centerville/Washington Township

For More Information, Contact:
Maureen Russell-Hodgson, 428-4765 or Matt Dunn, 433-7661
Jacqueline Curl, 433-0152 or Rich Palmer, 433-3083

For Immediate Release: 
August 10, 2009

Are You Ready for an Emergency?

Are you ready for an emergency? The City of Centerville and Washington Township are kicking off a local emergency preparedness campaign so that residents can safely answer “yes.”

Starting in September, the city and township are joining in the Resolve to Be Ready Campaign, a nationwide effort designed to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Information and reminders will be offered through city and township web sites, newsletters and local government access television programming. Both government web sites are providing local emergency preparedness information, plus links to the Resolve to Be Ready program where residents can learn how to prepare for an emergency.

“Now is a good time to focus on this effort. September is National Preparedness Month and also exactly one year from when our community experienced a windstorm that caused extensive power outages,” said City Manager Greg Horn. “Residents are very aware that a power outage, even in the most temperate weather, can bring a host of challenges.”

“Residents who follow the Resolve to Be Ready Program are better prepared if such an event were to take place again,” said Township Administrator Jesse Lightle. “The program also goes well beyond power outages. It educates and empowers Americans to prepare for and respond to a range of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.” 

Individual planning is the cornerstone to emergency preparedness, said Horn and Lightle. The Ready Campaign includes three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.

By taking those three steps – in particular having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car – people can be prepared for winter hazards such as power outages and icy roads. Each kit should include basic necessities such as water, food and first aid supplies.

The city and township will air a series of programs on channel GATV 5, educating residents about how to prepare for an emergency. Programs will incorporate local content as well as educational information from the Ready Campaign. The city’s own television programming – including Centerville Reports, Let’s Talk Centerville and Centerville Reports Today – also will include preparedness information throughout the year.

Details about local emergency preparedness can be found at www.washingtontwp.org and www.ci.centerville.oh.us. The city and township websites include links to www.ready.gov where individuals can get complete information, including checklists for their readiness kits.

The Ready Campaign also employs Twitter, a social networking tool, to promote emergency preparedness on a year-round basis. Twitter users can stay up-to-date by following the username, “ReadydotGov,” on Twitter. The Ready Campaign was launched in 2003 by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with The Advertising Council.

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