Many of us find it hard to believe that 20 years has already gone by since that fateful day on 9/11/01. If you ask anyone what they were doing that day when they heard the news, they can tell you exactly what they were doing. It’s seared in our memory, and we already have a generation of Americans that have been born and grown up since then. First responders and the American public were asked to become better prepared for emergencies/disasters. The National Incident Management System was rolled out; primarily it was is to ensure that first responders; from anywhere in the United States; could use the same terminology to request resources and communicate. Many hours of training were provided to ensure that all first responders were trained in Incident Command and grants were issued to provide equipment and communications.
It’s a day that must not be forgotten and we all need to remain steadfast to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. When 9/11 occurred many brave men and women stepped up and joined the armed forces and trained to become volunteer firefighters and EMT’s in their communities. Now, we are experiencing the opposite; many volunteer emergency services throughout the country as well as Green County struggle to recruit volunteers and maintain a level of service. Many factors can come to mind that may deter people from volunteering; time constraints, school, family, time commitment for training, and so on. But the rewards of being a volunteer are huge and they are always looking for new folks to recruit and join their ranks. Give your local fire department or EMS a call and they will be more than happy to talk to you.
September is Preparedness month in Wisconsin and this year’s theme is Prepare to Protect. Please ask yourself how personally prepared are you for an emergency/disaster? Would you be ready to evacuate your home or work and have the necessary skills and tools to reconnect with your family? This year we are asking everyone to: Make a Plan — know where safe place is to take shelter at home/work/school. Make sure everyone knows how to contact each other. Build a kit; stock it with non-perishable food, water and medications for 72 hours along with other supplies such as a flashlight, insurance policies and other important documents and phone numbers. Know Your Risk — Be prepared for disaster that exists in your community. This includes understanding natural threats, such as tornadoes, local flood hazards and man-made sites, such as industrial sites. Teach Youth Preparedness — Disasters can be scary for kids. Help them feel more in control by taking about what they should and can do in an emergency. Ready Wisconsin provides an excellent program; Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) for fourth or fifth graders. Information about this free classroom program is available at https://readywisconsinwi.gov/step.
Green County Emergency Management has (for free!) personal emergency planning templates for families and for those who live alone or require the assistance for daily living. Along with the template is information to build a kit and other information to be prepared. These are available on our website at https://www.greencountyem.com under the Be Prepared tab, or call us at 328-9416 and we will be happy to send one to you. Follow us on Facebook for tips on emergency planning and other information. Another good resource is http://readywisconsin.wi.gov.
Be prepared, consider volunteering and never forget 9/11 and other important periods of American History such as Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and all the wars before and after these dates. And of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we and others in foreign countries can live in peace and freedom.
— Tanna McKeon is the Green County Emergency Management Director.
