"National Be Aware and Prepare Month"

By Susan Conniry

June 21, 1999

Though I received dozens of e-mails regarding my last article, one in particular required an open response in this forum.

Liza Christian, Former Executive Director of the Rogue Valley Y2K Task Force contacted me with a very special request, but, before I address the issue, let me give you a little background.

In early 1998, when I first entered into the Y2K awareness arena, I did so with a purpose in mind. To save lives in case of a disaster. This, in keeping with my philosophy of sharing information, continues to be my prime motivator. Accordingly, I contacted numerous groups and agencies to offer help in promoting personal preparedness. Unfortunately, most community task force groups, though appreciative of my efforts, discounted my approach as "selfish" saying that the real effort should be to create awareness of the need for "community."

What they failed to realize/acknowledge was that a community is made up of individuals and that the whole effort would only be as strong as the weakest link. It is only when individuals prepare themselves and their families first that they become an asset to the entire group. My concern with those early community efforts was that citizens might see it as an easy way out. Instead of utilizing personal energy and effort in a preparedness program, they could instead rely on a community to take care of them. Another concern was that the community groups would use time and resources attempting to acquire approval and funding of their grassroots efforts from their local, state and federal governments. Valuable time that I believed should have been used to create personal awareness and preparation programs.

It serves no purpose to belabor the point that many of the community/grassroots groups were unable to arouse the necessary participation from either their governments or more particularly from the citizens. Rather, suffice it to say that it is the reason that Liza contacted me with her request. In her own words:

"I read your Prepare to Survive article and agree that personal responsibility toward preparedness is key to turning this around. However, I still find that most of the American public is asleep or complacent and do not choose to act. Until there is a Y2K event of consequence, or the government steps up to the plate, I don't think there will be real action by the whole. To that end, when I testified before the Senate at the May 25th Hearing on Community Preparedness, I brought along a document: A Proclamation to name September as National Awareness/Preparedness Month that has been endorsed by several of our local Mayors and county commissioners. I know you feel strongly about your position, and I believe this broad based emergency preparedness effort would be in line with your thinking in that it can be a non-threatening approach that will potentially get many more on board than our present efforts seem to have accomplished.

The Proclamation is available to download on the Rogue Valley y2k website: http://www.rv-y2k.org/proclam.htm."

Tip of the Week:

With little time remaining, any effort that may encourage citizens to personally prepare is time well spent. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" is a simple enough measure for Mayors and County Commissioners to undertake. I encourage readers to forward this article to their appropriate representatives. However, if this proclamation is to do any good, it must be accompanied by simple preparation information and more importantly by adequate press coverage that reflects on the responsibility of "Prudent Preparation for Y2K" not as coverage of the latest "Trendy Y2K Paranoia." I challenge the media to respond to this timely event accordingly.

Will endorsement by local representatives encourage citizens? I would say from experience, absolutely. After the first City/Urban/Y2K Preparedness Workshop we presented in the City of Poway, I received many e-mails. The following is representative of the content: "The fact that our Mayor endorsed the event and that it was a City sponsored function made us realize that preparedness for any disaster is prudent."

Official endorsement of a personal preparedness program will, I believe, encourage many citizens to act responsibly towards their own preparation. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" will make citizens aware of the need for them to do their own part. Their involvement will make a difference to their own wellbeing and that of others. Says Tom Brown Jr., author of Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival, "Never before has there been such an urgent need for the social involvement of individual citizens."

Therefore, I challenge all Mayors and County Commissioners to step up to the podium and engage your citizens in this effort of awareness and preparedness. Again Tom Brown Jr., "The world is crying for wisdom, leadership and active concern." I have sent the Proclamation to the Mayor of Poway. In mid-August we will co-host the second Preparedness Workshop and I have asked him to sign the proclamation at that important event.

As a final note, you may wish to contact Mayor Cafagna, City of Poway (619) 679-4204 and/or Bob Krans, Administrative Fire Chief (619) 679-4392 to discuss the details of how the City of Poway is taking on the challenge of creating awareness without precipitating panic. It is working in their city. It will work in your city.

Shelter, water, fire and food are your needs. All the rest are wants.

=========================================

"National Be Aware and Prepare Month" By Susan ConniryJune 21, 1999 Though I received dozens of e-mails regarding my last article, one in particular required an open response in this forum. Liza Christian, Former Executive Director of the Rogue Valley Y2K Task Force contacted me with a very special request, but, before I address the issue, let me give you a little background. In early 1998, when I first entered into the Y2K awareness arena, I did so with a purpose in mind. To save lives in case of a disaster. This, in keeping with my philosophy of sharing information, continues to be my prime motivator. Accordingly, I contacted numerous groups and agencies to offer help in promoting personal preparedness. Unfortunately, most community task force groups, though appreciative of my efforts, discounted my approach as "selfish" saying that the real effort should be to create awareness of the need for "community." What they failed to realize/acknowledge was that a community is made up of individuals and that the whole effort would only be as strong as the weakest link. It is only when individuals prepare themselves and their families first that they become an asset to the entire group. My concern with those early community efforts was that citizens might see it as an easy way out. Instead of utilizing personal energy and effort in a preparedness program, they could instead rely on a community to take care of them. Another concern was that the community groups would use time and resources attempting to acquire approval and funding of their grassroots efforts from their local, state and federal governments. Valuable time that I believed should have been used to create personal awareness and preparation programs. It serves no purpose to belabor the point that many of the community/grassroots groups were unable to arouse the necessary participation from either their governments or more particularly from the citizens. Rather, suffice it to say that it is the reason that Liza contacted me with her request. In her own words: "I read your Prepare to Survive article and agree that personal responsibility toward preparedness is key to turning this around. However, I still find that most of the American public is asleep or complacent and do not choose to act. Until there is a Y2K event of consequence, or the government steps up to the plate, I don't think there will be real action by the whole. To that end, when I testified before the Senate at the May 25th Hearing on Community Preparedness, I brought along a document: A Proclamation to name September as National Awareness/Preparedness Month that has been endorsed by several of our local Mayors and county commissioners. I know you feel strongly about your position, and I believe this broad based emergency preparedness effort would be in line with your thinking in that it can be a non-threatening approach that will potentially get many more on board than our present efforts seem to have accomplished. The Proclamation is available to download on the Rogue Valley y2k website: http://www.rv-y2k.org/proclam.htm." Tip of the Week: With little time remaining, any effort that may encourage citizens to personally prepare is time well spent. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" is a simple enough measure for Mayors and County Commissioners to undertake. I encourage readers to forward this article to their appropriate representatives. However, if this proclamation is to do any good, it must be accompanied by simple preparation information and more importantly by adequate press coverage that reflects on the responsibility of "Prudent Preparation for Y2K" not as coverage of the latest "Trendy Y2K Paranoia." I challenge the media to respond to this timely event accordingly. Will endorsement by local representatives encourage citizens? I would say from experience, absolutely. After the first City/Urban/Y2K Preparedness Workshop we presented in the City of Poway, I received many e-mails. The following is representative of the content: "The fact that our Mayor endorsed the event and that it was a City sponsored function made us realize that preparedness for any disaster is prudent." Official endorsement of a personal preparedness program will, I believe, encourage many citizens to act responsibly towards their own preparation. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" will make citizens aware of the need for them to do their own part. Their involvement will make a difference to their own wellbeing and that of others. Says Tom Brown Jr., author of Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival, "Never before has there been such an urgent need for the social involvement of individual citizens." Therefore, I challenge all Mayors and County Commissioners to step up to the podium and engage your citizens in this effort of awareness and preparedness. Again Tom Brown Jr., "The world is crying for wisdom, leadership and active concern." I have sent the Proclamation to the Mayor of Poway. In mid-August we will co-host the second Preparedness Workshop and I have asked him to sign the proclamation at that important event. As a final note, you may wish to contact Mayor Cafagna, City of Poway (619) 679-4204 and/or Bob Krans, Administrative Fire Chief (619) 679-4392 to discuss the details of how the City of Poway is taking on the challenge of creating awareness without precipitating panic. It is working in their city. It will work in your city. Shelter, water, fire and food are your needs. All the rest are wants."National Be Aware and Prepare Month" By Susan ConniryJune 21, 1999 Though I received dozens of e-mails regarding my last article, one in particular required an open response in this forum. Liza Christian, Former Executive Director of the Rogue Valley Y2K Task Force contacted me with a very special request, but, before I address the issue, let me give you a little background. In early 1998, when I first entered into the Y2K awareness arena, I did so with a purpose in mind. To save lives in case of a disaster. This, in keeping with my philosophy of sharing information, continues to be my prime motivator. Accordingly, I contacted numerous groups and agencies to offer help in promoting personal preparedness. Unfortunately, most community task force groups, though appreciative of my efforts, discounted my approach as "selfish" saying that the real effort should be to create awareness of the need for "community." What they failed to realize/acknowledge was that a community is made up of individuals and that the whole effort would only be as strong as the weakest link. It is only when individuals prepare themselves and their families first that they become an asset to the entire group. My concern with those early community efforts was that citizens might see it as an easy way out. Instead of utilizing personal energy and effort in a preparedness program, they could instead rely on a community to take care of them. Another concern was that the community groups would use time and resources attempting to acquire approval and funding of their grassroots efforts from their local, state and federal governments. Valuable time that I believed should have been used to create personal awareness and preparation programs. It serves no purpose to belabor the point that many of the community/grassroots groups were unable to arouse the necessary participation from either their governments or more particularly from the citizens. Rather, suffice it to say that it is the reason that Liza contacted me with her request. In her own words: "I read your Prepare to Survive article and agree that personal responsibility toward preparedness is key to turning this around. However, I still find that most of the American public is asleep or complacent and do not choose to act. Until there is a Y2K event of consequence, or the government steps up to the plate, I don't think there will be real action by the whole. To that end, when I testified before the Senate at the May 25th Hearing on Community Preparedness, I brought along a document: A Proclamation to name September as National Awareness/Preparedness Month that has been endorsed by several of our local Mayors and county commissioners. I know you feel strongly about your position, and I believe this broad based emergency preparedness effort would be in line with your thinking in that it can be a non-threatening approach that will potentially get many more on board than our present efforts seem to have accomplished. The Proclamation is available to download on the Rogue Valley y2k website: http://www.rv-y2k.org/proclam.htm." Tip of the Week: With little time remaining, any effort that may encourage citizens to personally prepare is time well spent. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" is a simple enough measure for Mayors and County Commissioners to undertake. I encourage readers to forward this article to their appropriate representatives. However, if this proclamation is to do any good, it must be accompanied by simple preparation information and more importantly by adequate press coverage that reflects on the responsibility of "Prudent Preparation for Y2K" not as coverage of the latest "Trendy Y2K Paranoia." I challenge the media to respond to this timely event accordingly. Will endorsement by local representatives encourage citizens? I would say from experience, absolutely. After the first City/Urban/Y2K Preparedness Workshop we presented in the City of Poway, I received many e-mails. The following is representative of the content: "The fact that our Mayor endorsed the event and that it was a City sponsored function made us realize that preparedness for any disaster is prudent." Official endorsement of a personal preparedness program will, I believe, encourage many citizens to act responsibly towards their own preparation. Proclaiming September as "National Be Aware and Prepare Month" will make citizens aware of the need for them to do their own part. Their involvement will make a difference to their own wellbeing and that of others. Says Tom Brown Jr., author of Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival, "Never before has there been such an urgent need for the social involvement of individual citizens." Therefore, I challenge all Mayors and County Commissioners to step up to the podium and engage your citizens in this effort of awareness and preparedness. Again Tom Brown Jr., "The world is crying for wisdom, leadership and active concern." I have sent the Proclamation to the Mayor of Poway. In mid-August we will co-host the second Preparedness Workshop and I have asked him to sign the proclamation at that important event. As a final note, you may wish to contact Mayor Cafagna, City of Poway (619) 679-4204 and/or Bob Krans, Administrative Fire Chief (619) 679-4392 to discuss the details of how the City of Poway is taking on the challenge of creating awareness without precipitating panic. It is working in their city. It will work in your city. Shelter, water, fire and food are your needs. All the rest are wants.

======================================

From the Westergard site.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), June 22, 1999

Answers

*SEPTEMBER 1999*? Sure, why not. At least it won't have to compete with "National Groundhog Day".

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 22, 1999.

Ahhh...but Will you're forgetting. After the government spin, there is only 2 to 3 days to prepare for anyway...

DJ

-- DJ (reality@check.com), June 22, 1999.

September may seem late (AND IT IS!), but it would be better than NOT preparing in September...

I don't know how many will prepare even then.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 23, 1999.