County urged to prepare for emergencies

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PRINCETON — The time to prepare for emergencies is before they happen, according to local emergency officials and agencies.

The Illinois Tourism Task Force and the American Red Cross have joined together to promote September as National Preparedness Month.

On Monday, Kris Donarski, coordinator for the Bureau County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA), said the designation of September as Emergency Preparedness Month will hopefully make people aware of important information and encourage them to take the needed steps to prepare for possible disasters, whether natural or man-made.

“We usually think of disaster preparedness when we see a disaster happen in an area other than our own,” Donarski said. “But if we go through a season when there hasn’t been a disaster, people tend to become complacent, and that is dangerous.”

One of the best things people can do is to prepare a disaster supply kit, Donarski said. The kit can be packed in a small suitcase with wheels and placed in an easily accessible location, so it’s ready to go if needed, she said.

Those emergency supply kits should include, in part, enough food and water supplies for everyone in the house for at least three days, as well as a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, extra medications, cash, battery-operated radio and contact information.

When preparing emergency supply kits, people should also remember their pets, Donarski said. Those kits should include pet food and water, a feeding/water bowl, any medications for the animal, veterinary records and a current picture of the pet, in case it gets separated from the family.

Families and friends are also encouraged to remember people with special needs and to make sure those people have the necessary supplies packed in the event of an emergency, Donarski said.

According to Laura Howe, spokesperson for the American Red Cross, many disasters allow no time for people to gather even the most basic necessities. That’s why people should prepare now. Statistics show only 7 percent of Americans have taken the steps necessary to get prepared for emergencies and disasters, she said.

The Red Cross is using National Preparedness Month to urge every family to be Red Cross ready, specifically by making a supply kit, making a plan and being informed. To help with that quest, the American Red Cross offers a variety of first aid, health, safety and emergency preparedness items.

“We’ve tried to make it as simple as possible for everyone to get prepared,” Howe said. “In purchasing these items, the public can feel good about not only preparing their families but also supporting the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.”

Red Cross items include first aid kits, disposable and heavy-duty work gloves, hand sanitizer, emergency preparedness kits, hand-crank radios, auto safety kits, and a variety of essential education guides. The Red Cross also has a line of infant health and wellness products. Items are available online, at many Red Cross chapters, and at a variety of retail locations nationwide.

Proceeds from the sale of the Red Cross items go directly back into supporting the mission of the organization, Howe said.

Lori Compton serves as director of the Bureau County Chapter of the American Red Cross and is available at the Red Cross office located within the Prouty Community Building.

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