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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman issued a proclamation designating September as Preparedness Month in Nebraska to draw attention to the importance of emergency preparedness, and encouraged all Nebraskans to develop their own emergency response plans.
“While we observe this day as a day to remember the many sacrifices of those who worked to save lives and protect freedom on 9/11 and in the five years since the attacks, it’s also important that we take the lessons learned on that day apply them to our own lives,” Gov. Heineman said. “Here in Nebraska, we have organized a collaborative effort that involves government agencies, health care providers, first responders, educators and others to ensure that we are ready to respond to the needs of our citizens.
“We are now beginning to drill down and look beyond the obvious large-scale targets and talk in serious terms about helping and encouraging ordinary citizens to prepare for an emergency.”
There are three steps all Nebraskans can take that would be useful in almost any crisis. The first is to stay informed about potential threats or disasters could potentially affect your community. Tornadoes, blizzards and other severe storms have been responsible for many of the state’s major emergencies. With extremely dry conditions in central and western Nebraska, the potential remains for wildfires to spark. In addition, man-made disasters and large-scale accidents have the potential to affect communities across the state.
The second step is to make a plan for what you and your family would do in the event of an emergency. Nebraskans are encouraged to develop a plan in the event an evacuation of their home became necessary, and also have a plan in place in the event a storm, disease outbreak or other emergency prevents individuals from leaving their homes.
Finally, Nebraskans are encouraged to start an emergency supply kit that includes a supply of food and water. Checklists and other information on preparing for an emergency is available online at http://www.ready.gov, which lists information on possible threats, as well as developing an emergency plan.
Dr. Joann Schaefer, the state’s Chief Medical Officer, said, “The events of the past five years have made clear that while we can’t always prevent a crisis, we can be better prepared to respond to one. Large-scale emergencies stress resources at every level. We know that preparing for an emergency now can help save lives later. That is why preparedness is more than a government effort; it’s also a vital community and personal effort.”
Al Berndt, Assistant Director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said, “The state is continuously planning, training and exercising to respond to both natural and man-made disasters. While state and local emergency management organizations work to be ready for any eventuality, we know that the first response in any disaster lies with the individual. Preparedness is a basic responsibility of each citizen, and we encourage everyone to consider ways they can assist their families and communities in an emergency until first responders are able to arrive.”
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a way for citizens to get involved and learn the skills necessary for disaster and emergency preparedness. Free training is available in communities across the state for individuals to learn basic response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, as well as basic emergency medical procedures. CERT training is administered by the Citizen Corps program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
CERT training allows citizens to provide basic and immediate response to disasters in their home and their community. Nebraska’s individual preparedness training efforts are administered by the Nebraska Volunteer Services Commission. The state is home to 19 county Citizen Corps Councils, and three city-based councils, offering training and support to citizens interested in learning more about preparedness and gaining valuable skills.
To locate additional opportunities for training or to become a volunteer with a local Citizen Corps Council, visit http://www.citizencorps.gov.
Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, Nebraska’s homeland security director, said, “We have organized our state emergency response plan around an ‘all hazards’ approach, which means we plan to be ready to respond to any emergency with the same level of commitment and collaboration. Every Nebraskan has the opportunity to become involved in emergency preparedness through local volunteer organizations. By taking action to ensure personal preparedness and by getting involved in local response efforts, we will continue to demonstrate why our state is a leader in emergency preparedness.”
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