On September 25, 2010, BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies) will host its first Youth Emergency Preparedness Expo – YEP! – at Bayview Park in Pensacola. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

“BRACE knows that kids can save lives too, so this event will focus on educating kids from kindergarten through twelfth grade in their roles before, during and after an emergency,” says Greg Strader, Executive Director of BRACE. “September is National Preparedness Month, so this will be a perfect opportunity to get kids and parents to prepare for emergencies together in an enjoyable and entertaining way.”

Join BRACE for a day of fun activities where the whole family can learn and try new skills. Activities include a full-scale water rescue exercise by the Coast Guard; interactive games from Police, Fire and Hazmat trainers; water safety demonstrations; rescue training skills appropriate for all ages; a student talent competition; pet activities and more! A special preschool section will teach parents and caregivers how to prepare for an emergency with infants and young children. Adults will also learn mitigation techniques as well as tips on preparing for an emergency when you have pets. A special area for domestic pets will also be available at this pet-friendly event.

BRACE will be working with area schools and teachers in August and September to publicize the event and prepare students for the activities and contests. September is National Preparedness Month.

Sponsorships and on-site vendor opportunities are now available. For more information, email BraceInfo@bellsouth.net or call (850) 444-7135. To learn more about BRACE and its program of work in Northwest Florida, visit www.bereadyalliance.org.

You choose either Tuesday or Thursday Evenings from 6 to 9 PM
Bayview Senior Center at 2000 E. Lloyd Street, Pensacola, FL
Week #1 –Disaster Preparedness
Week #2 –Disaster Fire Suppression –with hands on Fire Extinguisher Training
Week #3 –Tour of the Emergency Operations Center, ICS, Disaster Psychology
Week #4 –Disaster Medical Operations Part 1
Week #5 –Disaster Medical Operations Part 2
Week #6 –Light Search and Rescue
Week #7–Bioterrorism and CERT
Week #8 –Class Review and Disaster Simulation

To register:

• Call PeggyArmstrong at (850) 444-7046
• Email her at certvista@bereadyalliance.org
• Register online at our new website http://escambiacert.samariteam.com

If you are interested in starting a Team at your Workplace or Place of Worship please call 850-444-7046. Additional information about CERT can be found online at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

Open to ages 12 and over, up to 20 people per group. 

Click here to watch a clip on how you can help in the wake of the Oil Spill Crisis.

During a declared state of emergency, BRACE staff will be located in the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center, providing support to Escambia County Emergency Management and creating a vital bridge between residents who need support and BRACE Partners who have the resources to help.

When a state of emergency is declared, the BRACE homepage will go into Emergency Mode to provide our partners and the public with emergency information. The Escambia County Public Information Office will be updating MyEscambia.com with the latest breaking news as it is made available. BRACE’s website will provide a link to MyEscambia.com for this breaking news during an emergency.

But why wait? To make sure that you receive emergency updates via email or text, you can sign up now at MyEscambia.com. Several email subscriptions are available from Escambia County depending on your information needs – sign up for one, two, or all three. The Crisis Communication Email Subscription will only be activated during a declared state of emergency, and will only send you information when the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center has been activated.

You can unsubscribe from these Escambia County email subscriptions at anytime. To learn more, visit the Stay Informed page on MyEscambia.com.

The Escambia County Public Information Office also tweets updates on Twitter.com. During an emergency, they will send brief information out through Twitter, with more details available on the MyEscambia.com website and through the Crisis Communication Email Subscriptions. You can follow Escambia County at Twitter.com/myescambia.

Don’t be the last to know…sign up today!

Click Here to read the latest BRACE Yourself Newsletter for ideas and updates.

Save Money On Your Homeowner's Insurance Premium! - Did you know your garage door is the weakest location in your house? Supplies are available to strengthen your garage door and roof. Bracing your home may qualify you for lower insurance premiums while also protecting you from damage. BRACE Partners offer discounted Wind Mitigation Inspections for your home. You may save money on your homeowner's insurance by simply having the inspection and submitting the information to your insurance company. Call BRACE at 850-444-7038 for the discount code and the list of inspectors.

Want to know more about the H1N1 (Swine) Flu? - Symptoms of the H1N1 Virus are the same as those of Seasonal Flu, with the addition of vomiting. Pregnant women and people under 25 are most at risk. Taking common sense steps like frequent handwashing can help protect you and those around you. Get your flu shot. Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or your elbow rather than your hand, which more easily spreads germs. Stay home when you are sick. Keep sick children home from school.

Check out the CDC's website for the latest information and download the tool kit with useful resources for your business or faith-based organization.

Stay Up-To-Date On Escambia County Emergency Shelter Information – For the latest information, including what you can and cannot take to a shelter, as well as shelter locations, visit Be Ready Escambia.

Don’t Forget to Prepare Your Pets! – Escambia County has a designated Pet-Friendly Shelter for household cats and dogs. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required, and pet owners are required to stay in the adjacent American Red Cross shelter to care for their own pets. For registration information and a list of specific requirements, visit the Pet Shelter website.

Click the Download Document link below to open BRACE's Pet Preparedness Guide.

 

Planning is a daily part of our routine.  We plan our holiday activities, weekend activities and grocery store visits.  We plan our children’s schedules and daily tasks.  And without a doubt, endless lists often follow.  There is one particular list that deserves to be checked twice – and it’s not your holiday shopping list.  We’re talking about reviewing your emergency preparedness checklist and developing an emergency preparedness plan for your family.

 

Ready’s three simple steps:

 

1.    Get an emergency supply kit.

2.    Make a family emergency plan. (Pets included.)

3.    Be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur in your area and their appropriate responses.

 

BRACE encourages you to take a few extra minutes to plan for emergencies.  Consider the following questions:

 

1. Have you spoken to your children’s schools about their shelter-in-place and/or evacuation plans?

2. Do you know the evacuation plan at work?

3.  If your cell phone was inoperable how would you get in touch with your family?

4. Do you know where the closest shelter is, and will they accept your pets?

5. Do you have a family meeting place and an out-of-town contact?

 

 

These are just a few of the questions you should consider when you are developing your emergency plan. 

 

Free preparedness resources, such as a Family Emergency Plan Guide and an Emergency Supply Kit Checklist, are just a click away at www.Ready.gov.   The Ready Web site also has special sections for kids ages 8 to 12 (Ready Kids), and small to medium-sized businesses (Ready Business). Be sure to check it out and begin planning with your family today. 

 

Emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help minimize the impact on your life.  Remember, now is the time.  Resolve to be Ready.