Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 24, 2005

AMERICAN RED CROSS PROVIDES FREDERICK COUNTY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION
County Wide Mailing Challenges Everyone to Make Communities Safer with Five Simple Actions

Walkersville, MD – June 23, 2005 –The Frederick County Red Cross encourages all Frederick County residents to take some basic steps to ensure Frederick County is better prepared should disaster strike. By doing five simple things: make a plan, build a kit, get trained, volunteer and give blood, all residents will feel prepared in the event of a disaster.

Through a grant received through the Citizens Corps Council, the Frederick County Red Cross this week completed a mailing of the “Together We Prepare” brochure to 46,000 county households. The information contained in the mailing provides individuals and families with the five simple steps to preparedness for our community.

“With the possibility of natural disasters, terrorist attacks and everyday emergencies, being prepared can help save lives,” said, Judy Peterson Director Emergency Services. “By practicing the five actions of Together We Prepare™, Frederick County residents will make their homes, schools, workplaces and communities even safer.”

The Frederick County Chapter American Red Cross challenges everyone to make a plan. Preparedness and vigilance are the hallmarks of our new national reality, and planning for disaster is an essential step in preparedness. Next, the Red Cross wants everyone to build a kit. Whether you are evacuating or “sheltering in place” a disaster supplies kit can save lives.

The third element of Together We Prepare™ is training. The American Red Cross wants to educate and inspire people to help others. Knowing what to do when disaster strikes means getting trained. Helping others prepare by volunteering is the fourth element of disaster preparedness. Whether volunteering for the Red Cross or some another agency affilitated with the Citizen Corps Council, volunteers help prepare our community in case of emergency. The needs of Frederick County are many, and the potential for a disaster is inescapable.

Lastly, we can prepare for disaster together by donating blood. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and individuals with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions.

“The Red Cross is in nearly every community across the country,” said Leah Crace, Frederick Chapter Executive “so we are well positioned to organize preparedness activities. Every individual has the opportunity to play an important role. When we come together, we become something bigger than us all.”

More information on Together We Prepare™ including how to make a plan, build a kit, get trained, volunteer and give blood, is available by calling the Frederick County Chapter at 301-662-5131 or visiting www.frederickredcross.org or www.redcross.org.