City reminds residents that September is National Preparedness Month
Classes Being Held in September and October Help Residents Become Prepared
The City of Naperville, in conjunction with the United States Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), encourages all residents to better prepare themselves and their families for a disaster during National Preparedness Month.
September is designated as National Preparedness Month, and the City's goal is to help increase public awareness in preparing for disasters. Some simple steps that can be taken to increase preparedness during natural and man-made emergencies include:
• Making an emergency family plan
• Making an emergency supply kit
• Being informed and getting involved
“I encourage all residents to actively seek out ways to prepare their families, friends, neighbors, work associates and other community members for any emergency the City might encounter,” Emergency Management Coordinator Dan Nelson said. “Working together as a community, we can be as prepared as possible for a variety of situations.”
In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Naperville Citizen Corps Council will host Family Emergency Preparedness classes on September 13 and 27 at 7 p.m. in Room 206 of the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, 305 W. Jackson Ave. This free class will offer attendees general emergency preparedness tips.
Interested parties must register by sending an e-mail to BeReady@Naperccc.org. Please specify the date of the class and the number of participants in your group. For more information, please e-mail rick.brock@naperccc.org or call (630) 305-7000, ext. 570 and leave a message.
Another way to become involved is by joining Naperville's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The 2011 CERT class series will take place from 5:45 to 10 p.m. on October 6, 13, 20 and 27, with the final class taking place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. CERT offers basic disaster response training skills in areas such as fire safety, light search and rescue, first aid, disaster medical operations and team organization, among many others. Once participants complete the program, they will be qualified to assist their neighborhoods or workplaces in emergency situations when professional first responders cannot immediately make it to the scene.
Participants must be 18 years of age and must either live or be employed in Naperville. Interested parties should download a registration form and waiver from the City's website at www.naperville.il.us/cert.aspx and send it via mail to John Flannery, Citizen Corps Council Liaison, Naperville Electric Service Center, 1392 Aurora Ave., Naperville, IL 60540; via fax to (630) 305-6203; or by e-mail to flanneryj@naperville.il.us. Space in the class is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about CERT, visit www.napercert.org.
Additional volunteer organizations assist the Naperville community in the event of a disaster, including the Naperville Community Radio Watch, Citizen Corps Council and the Naperville Emergency Management Agency – NEMA/FIRECORPS. For more information on becoming involved with these organizations, contact Dan Nelson at (630) 420-6009 or nelsond@naperville.il.us.
The City has created a 20-page Emergency Preparedness Guide with helpful tips for families on what to do before, during and after an emergency. The guide lists examples of what to include in a family disaster supply kit, how Naperville residents are notified during an emergency, what to do if disaster strikes, how to store food and water in an emergency and more. The guide is available on the City's website at www.naperville.il.us/emergencyprepguide.aspx.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.ready.gov. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.