Within the Community
Are you prepared for the next disaster?
Although Hurricanes pose the strongest threat to coastal regions, storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have the potential to bring storm surge, high winds, tornadoes and inland flooding across Georgia. It is important to take time now to prepare in advance.
- Prepare by assembling a Ready kit of supplies for both your home and your car.
- Make a plan for responding to various threats and reconnecting with family members if you are separated during a disaster.
- Stay informed about your risk for a range of emergencies and make sure you have a way to stay connected during a disaster.
Make a plan to help your community
Are you ready for a disaster? we hope you are, but unfortunately there are a number of your local community that aren’t. When you look locally within your community, we’re sure you’ll see at least a few of the listed below:
- Single parents
- Seniors
- Special Needs
- Pet, Animal or Livestock owners.
All of the above could do with your help in case of a disaster, even if only takes you 10 minuets to help, it could save a life.
What can you do
The easiest thing to do is to try and get a group of like minded caring people within your community to get in touch with any or all of the above and offer your help as a support to them. Help them with making a plan, or get them involved with your plan, be there for them.
Taking it one step further
Hear in the Ware County area we have a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program program is administered by FEMA’s Community Preparedness Division. CERT is a training program that prepares people to help themselves, their families and their neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community. Through CERT, citizens can learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. With this training, volunteers can provide critical support by giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene. CERT volunteers also support the community year-round by participating in community preparedness outreach activities and distributing materials on disaster preparedness and education.
CERT for Ware County GA
The Main site for CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.
CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI), located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations.
Over the next two years, the CERT program aims to double the number of participants, with over 400,000 individuals completing the 20 plus hours of training. Train-the-Trainer sessions will be held in all 56 states and territories over the next year to expand the program throughout the United States.
American Red Cross
Community Disaster Education
Get the facts you need – before, during, and after a disaster or emergency situation. The American Red Cross has developed a thorough Community Disaster Education program that helps build a “culture of prevention” in our community. Our mitigation programs include presentations ranging from fire safety to senior disaster preparedness. We also conduct a smoke alarm replacement/installation program.
Red Cross presentations are available free of charge to groups, organizations and businesses. Our courses require a minimum of 10 people and typically an hour.
- Disaster Preparedness: Learn how to set up communication and escape plans as well as how to put together a disaster supply kit.
- Fire Safety: Learn how to set up a family fire escape plan and improve your ability to get out of a fire alive
- Flood and Flash Flood Safety: Learn what to do in the event of a flood or flash flood watch or warning and how to set up a family disaster plan.
- Heat Wave Safety: Learn how to treat and respond to heat-related illness, such as heat stroke and other heat-wave hazards.
- Preparing for the Unexpected (1.5 hours): Learn what to do when disaster strikes, how to evacuate a home or office safely, how to shelter in place and understand basic care steps for an injured victim.
- Senior Disaster Preparedness: Learn about the medical needs to consider when preparing for a disaster.
- Thunderstorm and Lightning Safety: Learn about the different dangers of thunderstorms, their warning signals, and how to stay safe during and after a thunderstorm.
- Tornado Safety: Learn the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning and how to set up a family disaster plan.
- Pandemic Flu (1 hour): Learn how to prevent the spread of seasonal and pandemic flu.
- Disaster Preparedness for those with Disabilities: Participants will learn about creating a personal support network and the disaster preparedness needs to consider for people with disabilities.