Office of Emergency Management encourages preparedness

Published April 25, 2016
By 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Office of Emergency Management
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, COLO. -- Devastating tornadoes, wildfires and other natural disasters have caused irreparable damage in recent years, yet nearly 60 percent of surveyed Americans have not participated in a preparedness exercise at work, school or home in the past year said Tech. Sgt. Michael Chancey, Emergency Management Flight NCO in charge.

The 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Office of Emergency Management at Peterson Air Force Base is encouraging the Team Pete community to participate in America's PrepareAthon! National Day of Action April 30.

America's PrepareAthon! National Day of Action is a grassroots campaign aimed at preparing families, organizations and communities for emergencies. Through a variety of resources, it promotes resilience planning along with how to be safe and mitigate damage.

This campaign offers easy-to-use preparedness guides, checklists and resources by visiting ready.gov to help individuals prepare and take action for common natural hazards. Ways that the Peterson community can take action include downloading alerts and warnings, creating an emergency supply kit, developing an emergency communication plan with loved ones, and safeguarding critical documents.

Be aware of worsening weather conditions by signing up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to smartphones.

Weather can turn dangerous very quickly. Be one step ahead of the storm by creating emergency supply kits for each member of your family.

It is also possible that your family will be in different locations when a disaster strikes. Develop a plan so everyone knows how to contact each other and reunite if separation occurs.

Be sure to secure important documents and keep them in a safe place. Have all personal, medical and legal papers in one place so you can evacuate without worrying about gathering critical documents last minute.

The Emergency Management team is scheduled to host several preparedness booths at locations across Peterson AFB on April 29, to encourage completion of preparedness actions.

From 9 am to 2 pm, there will be a large booth located in the main entrance area in the 21 Mission Support Group headquarters, building 350, and a vehicle static display with a large booth located near the entrance of the Main Base Exchange, building 1425.

From 11 am to 1 pm, there will be a small booth located in the entrance area of the AAFES Shoppette, building 1700.

From 3 pm to 5 pm, there will be a vehicle static display and small booth located in the Club, building 1013.

If you have questions or want to learn more about how to be prepared, contact the 21 CES/CEX Emergency Management team at 719-556-8434.

For alerts concerning Peterson AFB, text "follow PAFBAlert" to 40404 and then reply "on" to subscribe.

Twitter offers resources to stay up-to-date on local warnings. Here is a list of Twitter handles to follow: @PAFBAlert, @NWSPueblo, @CDOT and @CSPDPIO.

The Air Force Be Ready iPhone App is another way to stay connected to the latest alerts and emergencies: https:appsto.re/9BezN.i

Visit ready.gov for help in the search for local alerts and weather apps relevant for hazards that affect your area, communication plan resources, information on what to include in your emergency kits and helpful checklists.

Preparathon