SCAN: Southwest Community Association of Neighborhoods (501-c-3)

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

?“Avoid the Panic Button: Protect Your Family?”

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security announced today the launch of a new web site to provide step-by-step instructions for Kentuckians to develop personal family emergency plans and emergency supply kits.

The site, www.ProtectYourFamily.ky.gov, outlines components helpful for a family emergency situation, lists items for a dependable supply kit and provides details on family communications in case of a natural or man-made disaster.

The website will be publicized by a statewide public service campaign to encourage Kentuckians to prepare for emergencies. “Avoid the Panic Button: Protect Your Family,” the campaign tag line, memorably summarizes the reason Kentuckians should take a little time to prepare for any emergency.

“When a natural or man-made emergency occurs, it is important that Kentuckians avoid hitting the panic button. By taking some simple steps to make an emergency plan, Kentuckians will be as prepared as possible if an emergency occurs,” said Lt. Governor Steve Pence. “By logging on to www.ProtectYourFamily.ky.gov, you will have the information you need right at your fingertips.”

The publicity campaign is scheduled to run for three months and will utilize over 17,000 radio commercials and 168 billboard ads. Close to half of the radio and billboard ads were provided free of charge.

Partners in this effort include Kentucky’s Area Development Districts, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). The campaign’s information will also be made available at local Public Health departments, the Transportation Cabinet’s one-stop shop, state rest areas and welcome areas and libraries throughout the commonwealth.

In a recent national survey conducted by The Ad Council, 80 percent of Americans agreed taking some simple steps to prepare could help protect themselves and their families in the event of an emergency. However, only 58 percent had assembled an emergency supply kit, developed a family emergency plan or learned more about potential threats, the three steps recommended by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security’s “Avoid the Panic Button: Protect Your Family” campaign.

The “Avoid the Panic Button: Protect Your Family” campaign also promotes Kentucky’s Citizen Corps program. Citizen Corps, a volunteer training program, provides Kentuckians with quick and easy classes to help them better prepare their families and care for their communities in the event of an emergency.

Links

Protect Your Family - Prepare for Emergencies!