“You Can Be The Hero”

County Council recognizes dedicated volunteers during Emergency Preparedness Month

            National Emergency Preparedness Month is held each September to encourage people to take simple steps to prepare themselves and their families for an emergency or disaster.

            Throughout the year, Delaware County Council works with the Department of Emergency Services, Department of Intercommunity Health and Regional Emergency Medical Services, and partners in the community with one main goal: to keep residents safe.

            “While County government has key emergency plans in place with highly trained people to carry out these plans, one of the most important factors in emergency response is for individuals to be prepared,” said County Councilman Dave White in recognizing several residents who volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

              The theme for this year’s national Emergency Preparedness Month is “You Can Be The Hero.”

             “What that means is, it’s crucial for individuals and families to have an emergency plan in place, and also to volunteer to help their fellow citizens in an emergency. Every day, ordinary Americans step up in emergencies to perform real acts of heroism. The more people who are prepared, the quicker the whole community can respond and recover from any type of disaster, whether it’s a hurricane like Sandy in 2012, or a terrorist attack like the tragedy that struck the Boston Marathon this spring,” White said.

             County Council is taking this opportunity to encourage people to: 1. stay informed through Delco Alert and other resources; 2. to make a plan and create an emergency kit; and 3. if you are able, to get involved.

            The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), a division of the Department of Emergency Services, has prepared an excellent guide that is available to every household in the county. This year, the county partnered with WAWA to distribute these guides through the local WAWA stores.

            People are also encouraged to register for “Delco Alert,” a community warning system that uses emergency text messages to issue public warnings.

            “In Delaware County, we are lucky to have a number of dedicated volunteers who have trained to help in an emergency. Ed Kline, our Volunteer Management Coordinator, has mobilized 500 volunteers in various emergency support programs that include the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART) and the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). These volunteer organizations operate under the umbrella of the Delaware County Citizen Corps,” White said.

            “Ed and his staff are offering a series of free emergency preparedness seminars throughout September. People interested in volunteering can contact Ed Kline at ekline@delcodes.org. County Council would like to take the opportunity, in declaring Emergency Preparedness Month, to thank all of our emergency responders, including dedicated staff and volunteers, and to encourage people to ‘Don’t Delay; Be Prepared Today’.”