Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone:  843.958.4012

Release Number: 2795

Date: May 4, 2007


Free Disaster Preparedness Workshop Program on May 12 - Are You Ready?

            Public invited to learn from experts and ask questions about disaster preparedness

Charleston County Government is holding a free, two-hour Disaster Preparedness Workshop for the public on Saturday, May 12. The workshop is being conducted by Charleston County's Emergency Preparedness Division and the Charleston County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building (4045 Bridge View Drive, N. Charleston, SC 29405), in Room 339, the Emergency Operations Center.

"The purpose of the workshop is for the public to hear from local experts and have an opportunity to ask questions about disaster preparedness, local evacuation routes, shelter information, and many other topics," said Jim Tarter, CERT coordinator and host of the workshop.

Tarter will open the workshop with a short presentation, and information packets will be given to everyone who attends. There will also be a separate Children's Preparedness Workshop, held at the same time, for youth between the ages of 8 and 11 years old.

"Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for preparing themselves and their families for a disaster," Tarter said. "We will answer all questions from the audience, and will give everyone valuable information so that our citizens will know how to prepare."

Tarter's presentation will include the following, and more:

-        Children's Preparedness Workshop (ages 8-11)

-        Your role and responsibility compared with the role of federal and local government

-        How to prepare your home before an event

-        What supplies you need to have in stock

-        When to evacuate, where to go, and what to take with you

-        What to do if you don't have transportation

-        How storm surge is measured and predicted (Did you know that storm surge - not wind - has historically brought most of the death and destruction during hurricanes, and is the primary reason that coastal areas are evacuated as storms approach?)

-        Threats from wind and flood waters

-        Earthquakes and how to be prepared (Did you know that Charleston sits on a fault line?)

-        Disaster recovery, and where to pick up supplies after a disaster

-        "Operation Evacuation" - for persons with disabilities or mobility issues

-        How you can help yourself and your neighbors - become a member of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

-        Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) - taking care of animals before, during and after a disaster

The workshop is limited to 45 people. You must reserve your spot by Friday, May 11 in order to attend. Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a seat at the workshop, contact:

            James Tarter,Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Division
            4045 Bridge View Drive
            North Charleston, SC 29405
            Phone: (843) 202-7405
            Fax: (843) 202-7408

            E-mail: jtarter@charlestoncounty.org

Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.