in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters, the town has declared the month of September National Preparedness Month.
Speaking before selectmen Sept. 9, Norton Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Deputy Director Raymond Cord urged residents to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsored campaign by preparing themselves for future emergency situations.
“get a plan, make a kit and be informed,” he said. “That’s the best defense you can have.”
Cord said there are many emergency preparedness resources available to the public from federal, state, and local agencies. one such resource, a 200-page preparedness guide covering both natural and man-made disasters, is available for free from FEMA.
“It’s a wealth of information, and the best thing is it’s free,” he said.
Smaller pamphlets and booklets on preparedness are also available in the town hall lobby, Cord added.
in light of the area’s recent brush with Hurricane Earl, Cord said residents should make an added effort to brace for impending natural disasters, as hurricane season has entered the height of its wrath.
“We’ve just begun (hurricane season),” he said.
Selectmen stressed the importance of being prepared for other unexpected disasters, such as the flooding that occurred earlier this spring.
“there are quite a few storms out there that are unnamed that we need to be prepared for,” Selectman Timothy Giblin said.
Cord reminded residents that there are many emergency training courses available from the Red Cross and NEMA that can better prepare residents for emergency disasters. one of the most successful emergency programs is the town’s nine-week Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course, which is offered semi-annually to residents.
according to Cord, more than 200 CERT volunteers have been trained by the town’s emergency management agency since the course’s inception eight years ago.
another training session is expected to occur later this fall.
National Preparedness Month, part of FEMA’s Ready Campaign, was created to increase the public’s engagement in preparing for emergencies and to educate them on how to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. this month marks the seventh anniversary of the awareness campaign.
For more information on the Ready Campaign or tips on how to better prepare yourself in the event of an emergency or disaster, visit www.ready.gov or the NEMA page on the Norton town website at www.nortonma.org.
To request a free copy of Are you Ready? an In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness, or to view a PDF document of the guide, log on to the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.
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