Solon Economou

Getting your kids involved in emergency planning

For the third consecutive year, Sheriff Jim Cummings has signed on with the national Resolve to be Ready program, a preparedness initiative designed for family, homes, and businesses.

Resolve to be Ready relies on local public safety agencies - organizations like the Sheriff's Office -- to let citizens know why disaster planning is important and what concrete steps are required to get there.  Resolve's major national sponsors include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Ad Council.

"If you're on the threshold of disaster or it's already hit, you've waited too long," Sheriff Cummings cautioned.  "Getting ahead of the curve is the only way that works when lives and property are at stake.  We're dealing here with a human equation, not abstract principles."

This year's focus is threefold:

1. What home and business owners need to pull together for an effective emergency supply kit.
2. Why a family emergency plan is important and how to draw one up.
3. How to respond to different types of emergencies.

"If you're on the threshold of disaster or it's already hit, you've waited too long," Sheriff Cummings cautioned.  "Getting ahead of the curve is the only way that works when lives and property are at stake.  We're dealing here with a human equation, not abstract principles."

Sheriff Cummings urges citizens to log onto the Resolve to be Ready website at www.ready.gov.  You'll find what you need there.

The website is more than it seems.  There are three sections, Ready America for family emergency planning, Ready Business for business planning, and the part that I love, Ready Kids, which includes fun activities encouraging kids to put their planning skills to use in helping their families plan for the unexpected.

A mountain lion family, shown here assembling a family emergency kit, is used to illustrate how kids can be a part of the process. 

Including the kids in family emergency planning is a wonderful feature.  Log on and check out the site.  You'll enjoy it.  Of course, if you're like some adults and don't know how, your kids will show you.  With their computer savvy, they're already part of your emergency planning team.