September is National Preparedness Month, an opportunity to renew our commitment to strengthen the ability of individuals, businesses and the community to rebound from traumatic, tragic, and unpredictable events. The anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 and the winding down of our Cook County wildfire season reminds us that the most devastating impacts of disaster are local.
Cook County, including Grand Portage Reservation, must be able to withstand adversity such as an influenza pandemic, natural disaster, or a terrorist attack. It will take 48 hours or more for federal resources to arrive once requested, and we will be on our own.
Our challenge is no less than this: We must be ready to minimize death and suffering, tend to the greater vulnerability of children, the frail elderly, the physically compromised,
those who live in poverty and our local families. Businesses can also improve their survivability with emergency preparedness planning. When the worst has passed, our disaster goals will be to rapidly restore our community to a state of self-sufficiency, health, and social functioning.
Are you ready to help yourself, your family, and your business? Only after you’ve assembled an emergency supply kit and made your emergency plans will you be able to focus and act when disaster strikes. Find out how to make a make a kit and create a plan at: http:// canoe.co.cook.mn.us (Cook County web site) and www.bt.cdc.gov/ preparedness/.
Are you ready to help the community? Become a member of our local Medical Reserve Corps Unit (MRC). Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and all individuals interested in volunteering to assist others will be needed in an emergency. Find out how to join our local MRC unit at www.mnresponds.org.
Non-medical people are also encouraged to join. Citizen volunteers are needed to support responding organizations. You can receive helpful training, such as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course, CPR and First-Aid to prepare yourself and your family. In addition you will gain skills useful in community emergency response. We can honor the victims of past disasters by becoming ready and resilient individuals, families, and communities.
Jim Wiinanen
Cook County Emergency
Management Director
Joni Kristenson RN/PHN
Cook County Public
Health Coordinator
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