ACP Preparedness Presentation

Bob George and Marny McLee gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the First State Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) at DEMA.  Fifteen (15) members attended the presentation, they got a chance to view the Disaster Preparedness DVD as well as go away with a Citizen Corps Disaster/Emergency Kit and other preparedness materials. ACP focuses on Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Audit Compliance and Emergency Planning and is a member of the NCC Citizen Corps Council. The POC for the presentation was Brian Bannon of NCC OEM/Citizen Corps and member of the group along with ACP President, Peggy Cole of DTI.

Preparedness DVD Kick-Off

Sussex Central High School hosted a Citizen Corps Press Conference in regards to the release of the Spanish and English subtitled versions of the Disaster Preparedness Video created in 2008 by the Preparedness Coalition. The coalition consist of DEMA, Citizen Corps, the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP- Sussex County) and the Public Health Preparedness Section. With the goal of educating all Delawareans on how to prepare for a disaster, in 2010, the Disaster Preparedness Coalition is expanding the campaign to reach students and all other members of the public, including the Spanish speaking population and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.  This multi-faceted approach will increase the number of Delaware Citizens who are prepared for disasters, whether natural or technological. 

Angela Manos, FEMA Region III Community Preparedness Officer, came from Philadelphia to support the Disaster Preparedness DVD Kick-off. In addition to Gov. Jack Markell, Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Lewis Schiliro, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police Colonel Robert Coupe, DEMA Director James Turner III, Indian River School Superintendent Susan Bunting, Sussex Central Principal Timothy Capone, had brief comments at the event. A signing translator for the deaf and hard of hearing ensured that all attending were aware of speakers’ comments. There were also Spanish speaking attendees from Citizen Corps/CERT and DSP to assist if language translation was necessary.

Citizen Corps Disaster/Emergency Kits were presented to (from L to R) Secretary Lowery, Superintendent Bunting, Principal Capone and Gov. Markell (pictured above). Officiating the event was DSP PIO Sgt Walter Newton, the Signing Interpreter for the event was Caroline Greene (below) of DEAFinitions and Interpreting LLC. DSP Sgt Jennifer Griffin was the POC and coordinator for the event.