Join us at South Coastal Library for the third and fourth part in this emergency and disaster preparedness series. Our speakers for the series are:

Pat Heineman, MS, University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies and DEMA partner

Pat Young, Library Assistant, Milton Public Library and Chair, Delaware Libraries and Disasters Initiative

While we do not like to think about emergencies and disasters, they happen frequently.  Hurricanes, power outages, tornadoes, earthquakes and pandemics are probably just some that come to mind. Whether your neighborhood has flooded from recent rainstorms or trees are down on your property from high winds or a hurricane, feeling unsafe and facing possible losses can be very stressful. This series will provide a wide range of information and resources that will help you be better prepared for what may come. Registration is optional. 

April 30, 2024 | Part 1: Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters: Taking Priority Steps to Increase Readiness and Resilience

What’s involved in preparing for emergencies and disasters? And why should I do anything to prepare? These questions and more will be discussed during this interactive presentation. Participants will learn about the importance of personal risk analysis, the important differences between preparing to shelter in place vs. evacuating and resources and information to assemble a personal “go-bag” and a personal kit for sheltering in place. All participants will receive a go-bag that they can fill at home.

May 9, 2024 | Part 2: Communication is Key in Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters

Where do you turn for information when emergencies and disasters are near? And who do you communicate with before, during and after those events? Reliable information is critically important when personal safety is at risk. This presentation will introduce participants to Smart911 and the Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS) – both vital resources to stay informed. Resources will also include tools to help participants communicate with family, friends, and neighbors as events unfold and in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters.

September 23, 2024 @ 2 pm - 3:30 pm | Part 3 & Part 4:  Emergency Preparedness: Evacuation Planning, Preserving Important Documents, and Staying Involved

Join us for that last session in this series. This session has been changed to encompass the information in both session 3 & 4 together in a cohesive 90-minute presentation. Do you know when to leave when first responders mandate an evacuation? Do you know what route(s) to take? And what about when the storm is over and you need to start picking up the pieces? Will you have all of the documents that you need to file insurance claims, etc.? This presentation will provide an overview of Delaware Emergency Management Agency’s (DEMA’s) Know Your Zone evacuation plan, review evacuation routes, and discuss the Important Documents Binder. Advice on sharing these documents with your support network and how best to organize and save them will be included. Presenters will also introduce Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training – a nationwide program that equips volunteers with a variety of skills to help enable them to survive emergencies and disasters.