The Ventura County Emergency Planning Council in California presents awards every year to acknowledge the support of local organizations for disaster preparedness and recovery in Ventura County. During their recent quarterly meeting, they honored 10 organizations and two individuals for their emergency services in 2009. The awards category included:
- Best Emergency Preparedness Public Information Campaign
- Best Emergency Preparedness Drill/Exercise
- Best Emergency Preparedness Plan, strategic national stockpile plan
- Best Emergency Preparedness Training, countywide CERT training and CERT refresher training
- Best Emergency Implementation/Enhancement
- Best Emergency Community Program, countywide CERT training
- Best Emergency Volunteer Program
- The Disaster Service Worker Achievement Award
Some (or all) of these awards might serve as a template for your 2010 goals in the area of emergency preparedness. For example, you can plan to hold emergency preparedness drills once a month at your home, at your office and in your car. The drill can be as simple as driving home using a back route, and stopping along to way to use one item in your car survival kit.
Another goal could be to write out your emergency preparedness plan and review it thoroughly with your family. Finally, you might want to attend meetings or classes in 2010 held by your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).