Are you prepared for an emergency? September is the time
By News Release on Sep 8, 2008 in Afton, Alpine, News, Star Valley Ranch, Thayne
Emergency preparedness is not something new to many Star Valley residents, but probably not to all. This September marks the 5th annual National Preparedness Month that is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In Lincoln County, the office of the DHS is still stressing that everyone in the county have a 72-hour kit to use in case of emergency this year.
“There’s still people out there that feel like ‘this can’t happen to me’,” said Jay Hokanson, Deputy Coordinator, from the Lincoln County office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
When an emergency or natural disaster does happen, people may have to depend on their 72-hour kits.
Those with 72-hour kits will be much more prepared than those without.
Disasters like power outages, which may cause no water or heat, extreme cold temperatures, large snowstorms, wild fire, and even floods are several of the natural disasters that could happen to Star Valley.
The county DHS is currently encouraging county residents to purchase weather service alert radios, which are somewhere within the range of $50 to $70. The radios will pick up signals from the National Weather Service Center in Riverton so people will be able to know weather conditions quickly. “It’s the fastest and quickest way we can get word out to the public,” said Hokanson.
No, huge disasters are not very likely to happen in Star Valley, but there is always the chance, and that chance can’t go overlooked. Too often people aren’t prepared when a natural disaster or major emergency takes place and it leaves those people in a poor situation.
“There’s a tendency – and it’s human nature – to think that large-scale disaster is not going to happen where you live, said Sandy Baruah, acting administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Accepting the inevitability of an emergency, and then taking the responsibility for our own recovery are the necessary first steps toward protecting your family, your assets, and your community.”
Those who have questions about about preparing a 72-hour emergency kit or for those who would like to learn more about emergency preparedness, please contact the Lincoln County Department of Homeland Security office at (307) 558-3626.
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