Phone: 405-228-9588 November 14, 2005

Pager: 405-304-0000

Cell Phone: 405-202-0010

American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security Encourages all Oklahomans to Prepare for Disasters

Special presentation will be made to Dunbar Elementary Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

Oklahoma City – The American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS) will present Dunbar Elementary with two “Masters of Disasters” school kits (one for grades K-2 and another for grades 3-5).

The organizations are working together to encourage all Oklahomans to build a disaster preparedness kit, get trained, volunteer and prepare a plan for their families, neighborhood and workplaces to respond to a disaster.

“Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly without warning,” Vince Hernandez, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, said. “Your best defense is to prepare in advance and work together as a team to protect your loved ones.”

Each kit comes equipped with ready-to-go lesson plans for integrating disaster preparedness and safety instruction into standard academic classes. The kit discusses in detail facts about general preparedness, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, lightning and earthquakes.

“The effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita re-emphasized the importance of being prepared,” said Kerry Pettingill, Oklahoma Homeland Security Director. “Preparedness is an individual obligation regardless of age. We are reaching out to elementary aged children encouraging them to share this message with their families to make Oklahoma better prepared for any disaster – natural of manmade.”

OKOHS and the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma partnered together in September to promote National Preparedness Month 2005. National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that encourages Americans to be better prepared for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. For more information on preparedness visit www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma is a proud partner agency of the United Way of Central Oklahoma.

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