Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management Chris Sorensen, Director 1305 Goff Street Eads, CO 80136 719-438-2288 MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release September 14, 2007 For more information contact Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management Chris Sorensen, Public Information Officer 719-688-0506 (cell, not for public release) or chris@kiowaoem.com SEPTEMBER IS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH (EADS, COLORADO) Nationwide, September is Emergency Preparedness Month. With winter just around the corner, its time to take a few simple steps to help ensure you and your family are ready when an emergency arises. One of the most important things each person can do is create a kit with basic survival items such as water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight, personal hygiene products, and a first aid kit. An ideal emergency kit will have enough supplies to last at least 72 hours. Don’t forget to make allowances for essential medications, but be careful about letting any medication become outdated or expired. Water is one of the most important items in your kit. A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon per person, per day for each member of your household. If storage space allows, include extra water in case the emergency last more than three days. If you include canned food items in your kit, don’t forget to include a non-electric can opener. Always include food items that you know you will eat – if no one in your family likes canned lima beans, don’t include a case of them in your kit! Check the expiration date on food items at least every three months, and rotate out items that will expire before your next scheduled check. The Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management (KCDEM) office, Kiowa County Public Library, and other locations also have a Citizen Emergency Preparedness Guide which includes tips about how to respond to a variety of situations, such as tornadoes, winter storms and fire hazards. The guides are free, and made possible by funding from the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If you’d like more information about emergency planning and preparedness for your family, stop by the KCDEM office, located in upper level of the Kiowa County Courthouse at 1305 Goff Street, Eads. You can also find more detailed information at these web sites: • KiowaOEM.com • SERegion.com • ReadyColorado.com • Ready.gov General information about emergency services is available from the Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management, 719-438-2288, or the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office, 719-438-5411. For immediate emergencies, dial 911. #30# Released 2007-09-14 0914 – Initial release – Also available electronically at kiowaoem.com or seregion.com.