News

National Preparedness Month boosts disaster planning

  • Published
  • By Brian Shreve
  • Robins Public Affairs
It's always better to be prepared, and the month of September could be the best time to pick up a few tips.

National Preparedness Month is already in full swing at Robins. The 78th Civil Engineer Group Emergency Management team is hosting events at various locations around the base each week, during which instructional pamphlets and other materials will be passed out.

It's all in an effort to keep Team Robins informed on how to react to calamity.

This year's theme, "Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare," aims to raise Air Force preparedness through emergency awareness, said Tech Sgt. Terri Adams, 78th Readiness and Emergency Management Flight NCOIC.

"We want to show personnel not only how to prepare for any type of emergency, but how to respond to it and protect their family as well," she said. "These handouts help regular homeowners with building a supply kit and with what they can do in the event of a flood, extreme heat or cold, or whatever the case may be.

The series of events kicked off Sept. 5 at the Fitness Center and will continue today at the Base Restaurant from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; on Sept. 19, the Base Exchange will serve as the location from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The awareness campaign will wrap up on Sept. 26 - also between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Commissary, where a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio will be raffled off.

At each event, the base's Mobile Emergency Operations Center - the 39-foot vehicle which serves as a command post during disasters - will be showcased.

"People should definitely come out," said Adams. "Like the old adage goes, 'the best time to fix the roof is while the sun is still shining.' That's why we want to get the word out to help people plan for emergencies.

Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Agency and inspired by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, National Preparedness Month was incepted at Robins and around the country in 2004 with a goal of encouraging Americans to prepare for emergencies at home and around their communities.