With Delaware’s fair weather this past week, it may be easy to forget the importance of being prepared for natural disasters.
To remind residents, more than 50 state, local, volunteer and faith-based groups are hosting a Family Emergency Preparedness Day in Dover Saturday.
Event Coordinator Marny McLee says the event at the Delaware Agriculture Museum on Route 13 offers interactive exhibits including K-9 and SWAT team demonstrations, and a Red Cross emergency shelter.
“Delaware National Guard will have a climbing wall for the kids. We’re going to have games for the kids to play and plus we’re going to have a message on preparedness to help the public. We’re going to have a preparedness train ride for the kids. During lunchtime, we’re going to be serving up to 500 folks a free lunch,” McLee said.
McLee adds it’s important to remember that citizens cannot always rely on government agencies to provide immediate help during emergencies.
“If you take, for instance, [Hurricane] Katrina, a lot of people did wait on FEMA. They weren’t prepared themselves. A lot of people ended up perishing or things happened because they we’re prepared," said McLee. "So, our message is: prepare yourself so whenever that disaster happens you’ll have a plan on where you need to go, what you need to take with you. ”
McLee says it’s most important for families to have an emergency kit and survival plan in place in case of natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and snowstorms.
The free event is hosted by DE Citizen Corps and Kent County Emergency Management Agency and is open from 10 am to 2 pm.
