Don't Celebrate This Holiday!

On the radio this morning, we heard that it is "Blame Someone Else Day."  As an emergency management agency, we hope that NO ONE celebrates this holiday, but unfortunately, many of us do without formally recognizing the day. 

When disaster strikes, there is often a rush to blame.  Some people blame God, while others blame Mother Nature.  Many people will blame FEMA or local government for an inadequate response while others will rush to find someone to sue because surely someone owes them money somewhere. 

Today, we are asking people to boycott "Blame Someone Else Day" and do one simple thing that will prepare yourself or your family to handle an emergency situation.  Here are a few ideas:

• Check out your emergency preparedness kit and see if anything needs replacing.
• Create or renew your out-of-area contact card, making sure that your out-of-area contact knows that they may be called upon to serve this function. 
• Make sure that all of your family members are carrying their out-of-area contact card.
• Check your smoke alarms to see if they work.
• Do a family reunification drill.  If there was smoke in your house, do all of your family members know where to meet outside?

Whatever you do, join us in remembering that each of us have a personal responsibility to be prepared all of the time.  Don't be tempted to blame someone else (even if it is a holiday!)