The Importance of Preparedness

The Importance of Preparedness

By Governor Dave Heineman

The recent storms that have struck the Gulf Coast and affected the lives of millions of residents have provided a powerful reminder of the need to periodically re-evaluate our own disaster readiness. September is National Preparedness Month, and there is no better time to learn from the difficult lessons of the past month and continue our work to ensure that we're prepared to respond in the face of an emergency.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have provided a valuable reminder for members of our emergency and disaster response community that planning pays off. Each state faces a unique set of challenges in securing the protection of its residents, and here in heartland, we've devoted much time and energy to analyze potential threats to our food supply and major transportation corridors.

We have also invested more than $74 million in federal funding to upgrade communications equipment and provide decontamination trailers for first responders across the state, sponsored emergency training and provided funding for ten municipal fire departments that represent key assets in emergency response for the state.

Whether we're called to act in response to a terrorist attack or a tornado of historic proportions, we must be ready to respond, and Nebraska's recent participation in the national response to Hurricane Katrina was a good test of our abilities.

Of the thousands of residents from the storm-affected region, Nebraska received 166 evacuees who were flown from New Orleans to Omaha, and communities across the state opened their arms to hundreds more who were able to evacuate on their own.

The effort to relocate so many storm victims presented a new challenge for our state and judging from the high level of coordination among several state agencies, I can say without a doubt that Nebraska responded to the call for help with flying colors.

Representatives of several state agencies were on hand to provide assistance to evacuees as they arrived at the shelter set up in Omaha. Within 15 minutes Health and Human Services employees were able to complete the process of applying for aid, and workers from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Labor were also available to issue driver licenses and provide assistance in locating jobs. Volunteers even responded to the need to provide care and shelter for several pets that made the trip with their owners.

These are just a few examples of the preparations our state is ready to make in the event of an emergency, and I want to applaud the work of private relief agencies and our partners at the local level for the tremendous role they played in providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere for evacuees.

We can all take an active role in planning for an emergency. The recent evacuation of several communities prior to Hurricane Rita highlights the importance of having a plan and the resources needed to move quickly in an emergency. The time to prepare is before a disaster strikes, and so I urge every Nebraskan to take time during National Preparedness Month to arrange an emergency kit and a plan for communication and evacuation among family members.

While we hope we need never call on the vast resources we've put in place to see us through an emergency, my hope is that Nebraskans are comforted by the high level of preparedness our state has achieved in recent years.

I salute all those who are involved in emergency planning and response throughout this state. It is their dedication that has the potential to save lives in an emergency, and their commitment that has helped our state become a model for emergency preparedness.

http://gov.nol.org/columns/2005/0926.html