Mayor Michael A. Nutter will be joined by a contingent of City officials; Tom Foley, CEO of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter; John Griffin, Group Assets Protection Team Leader for Target; members of the Red Cross Clubs; and students from the Randolph Skills Center Fire Academy Program to kick off a month-long series of community-based Preparedness events and workshops to be held throughout Philadelphia for National Preparedness Month.
“The thought of being caught in a fire, flood, hazardous chemical release or other emergency can be frightening; but if people aren’t prepared, the results can be devastating,” said Mayor Nutter. “That’s why I am asking all Philadelphians to prepare for any kind of emergency. We all need to take personal responsibility and prepare. It just makes sense to do so.”
At the kickoff event, being held at the Target Department Store, 2701 Castor Avenue, at 2:00 p.m., Mayor Nutter and Tom Foley will lead the group in assembling 150 Red Cross disaster preparedness kits (Go Bags), with emergency supplies, donated by Target. The Go Bags will be given to Red Cross House families -- people who are staying at Red Cross House because they have been temporarily or permanently displaced as a direct result of a disaster. The Red Cross House, located in West Philadelphia, is the only facility of its kind in the United States.
“At Target, we’re proud of our long-standing commitment to provide support for the communities we live and operate in. We partner with the American Red Cross, local government agencies and other organizations to help make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared. Our community support, which has been part of our culture from day one, includes giving five percent of our profits to support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. We are excited to work with Mayor Nutter and the American Red Cross to help Philadelphia to be prepared,” said Griffin.
“The time to prepare for an emergency is now, not when an emergency happens,” said the Red Cross’ Tom Foley. “This work that the Mayor is leading is critical to the health and well-being of our communities. Last year alone, the Red Cross took care of more than 10,000 local people displaced by disaster, and all of them could have benefited from having some emergency plans and preparations – simple things like photocopies of important documents and a list of their medications and dosages – to help them recover more quickly and easily.”
Mayor Nutter and Tom Foley will present a Proclamation and Go Bag to a family who stayed at Red Cross House. They will also present certificates to members of the Red Cross Clubs Youth Council for their work creating and running a preparedness camp at the Red Cross and to Randolph Skills Center Fire Academy Program students who assisted in coordinating the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire Safety Summer Day Camp held at recreation centers throughout Philadelphia this summer.
Starting in October 2007, dedicated Red Cross Club members from six Philadelphia high schools formed the Red Cross Club Youth Council. During the 2007-2008 school year, 12 members met regularly undergoing training to develop their leadership skills. With the purpose of planning a Youth Preparedness Camp, the members learned about Red Cross shelter operations, budget planning, the logistics of shelter design, and the development of promotional materials for the camp. They also participated in training to develop skills in group facilitation, public speaking, and program logistics to run the camp.
During the event, Mayor Nutter will announce that throughout September, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the American Red Cross SEPA Chapter will be conducting five Preparedness Workshops on the following dates to help Philadelphians prepare for any kind of emergency, learn about their neighborhood evacuation routes, and sign up for emergency text alerts through ReadyNotifyPA:
Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. The Eye Institute, Amphitheater, 1200 W. Godfrey Avenue (Rain date: Oct. 8)
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7:00 p.m. John Perzel Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent Street (Rain date: Oct. 14)
Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. 6th Police District, 235 N. 11th St. (Rain date: Oct: 20)
Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6500 Tabor Road (Rain date: Oct. 21)
Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. 24th and 25th Police Districts, 3901 Whitaker Avenue (Rain date: Oct. 20)
In addition, the Philadelphia OEM will present an Emergency Preparedness Workshop for the Blind at the Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, on Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m., as well as one for the Spanish speaking community at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset Street, on Sept. 9 at 12:00 p.m.. They will present their Business Preparedness Workshop for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, 200 S. Broad Street, Suite 700, on Sept. 16 at 8:30 a.m.
The Red Cross will also present 66 preparedness events throughout the five county region.
On Sept. 23, Philadelphia OEM will host a Volunteer Sign-Up Day on Sept. 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., The Rotunda, The Shops at Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut streets.
“We all have a role to play in keeping Philadelphia safe and secure,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison. “It starts with you. Become a volunteer to help make Philadelphia safer, stronger and better prepared for emergencies.”
Eight agencies will be participating including the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps, Philadelphia Town Watch Integrated Services, The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia, and the Second Alarmers Association of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia OEM would like to thank its sponsors of the 2009 Ready Region/Ready Philadelphia campaign and partners of its emergency preparedness workshops and outreach activities which include the American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter; The Star Group; Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force; The Inquirer; Philadelphia Daily News; and philly.com; GIM; Target; Clear Channel Digital Outdoor; Clear Channel Radio Philadelphia (WUSL-FM, WDAS-FM, WIOQ-FM, WISX-FM, WRFF-FM, WUBA-AM) and Total Traffic Network Philadelphia; CBS Radio (KYW-AM, WIP-AM, WOGL-FM, WPHT-AM and WYSP-FM); WXTU; WNWR; Metro Networks/Shadow Broadcast Services and Westwood One, Philadelphia; Puerto Rican Panorama; PECO; Philadelphia Gas Works; Philadelphia Water Department; Office of Housing and Community Development; Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments; Philadelphia Department of Public Health; Philadelphia Town Watch Integrated Services; Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee; Free Library of Philadelphia; Philadelphia Bar Association; Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Empowerment Group; Center City District; Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging; numerous senior centers; Congreso de Latinos Unidos; Associated Services for the Blind; Lyrasis; the Sports Complex Special Services District; Comcast Towers; Shops at Liberty Place; University of Pennsylvania, Division of Public Safety; New Jersey Office of Emergency Management; Camden County; Montgomery County Planning Commission; Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society; Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps; The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia; Second Alarmers Association of Philadelphia, National Weather Service/SKYWARN; OEM Ready Intern Katie Caulfield; and the list continues to grow.
For information about all the National Preparedness Month events, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management website at www.phila.gov/ready, call 3-1-1 and go to www.redcross-philly.org.