State urges Hoosiers to be prepared

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September 8, 2008

For the Republican The Rushville Republican Mon Sep 08, 2008, 10:12 AM EDT

Gov. Mitch Daniels has proclaimed this week as Indiana Preparedness Week.

To mark the occasion, state officials are urging residents to take four steps to be prepared in case of an emergency: make a plan, get a kit, be informed, and get involved.

“Every family needs to know what to do in an emergency, whether it is a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, or even a house fire,” Joe Wainscott, executive director, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said. “Sit down with your family today and make a plan. Be sure to include the needs of all family members, including pets.”

Wainscott says the recent storm damage in Indiana shows the urgent need for families and communities to make plans before a disaster hits. An emergency plan should include meeting as a family to discuss what to do before and after a disaster, identifying an out-of-state contact and a family meeting location, determining what to do with pets, and coming up with an escape route.

“Emergency preparedness is not just a task for state and local governments,” State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe, M.D., said. “All Hoosiers need to think about what to do if they or their family are involved in an emergency or natural disaster. A little advanced planning, including having a disaster kit, can make the difference between tragedy and survival during events like an influenza pandemic.”

According to Dr. Monroe, a disaster kit should contain at least a three-day supply of the following nine essential items:

n Battery-powered or hand-crank radio;

n Bottled water (one gallon per person per day);

n Canned and packaged food (enough for each member of the family);

n Clothes;

n Essential prescription medications;

n First aid kit;

n Flashlight with extra batteries or a hand-crank flashlight;

n Hygiene items, such as toothbrush, soap, and toilet paper; and

n Manual can opener.

“An important part of disaster preparedness is including a plan for long-term recovery, as often the hardest part of an emergency is the process of recovering,” Andy Miller, director, Office of Disaster Recovery, said. “Taking simple steps like placing copies of home and car titles, loan papers, and other important documents in a secure location can help individuals get the help they need and recover from a disaster more quickly.”

As of Sept. 5, there have been 17,630 storm victims in Indiana who applied for federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Miller says the state is continuing in its efforts to help those who were impacted by the late spring storms to recover, including Project Aftermath.

Project Aftermath, which is provided through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction at the Family and Social Services Administration, provides crisis counseling and emotional support to those who have experienced a loss or trauma as a result of a disaster. For further information or assistance, visit

www.indianaprojectaftermath.org or call 1-866-679-4631.

Miller also encouraged Hoosiers to get involved by volunteering to help with the continued storm recovery efforts and by becoming an active participant in their local community preparedness efforts. According to Miller, knowing first aid is one way that members of the community can get involved.

For more information on Indiana Preparedness Week and emergency preparedness, visit www.statehealth.in.gov or www.IN.gov/dhs.

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