HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation proclaiming September 2008 as Orange County Preparedness Month r
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 2008 AS
ORANGE COUNTY PREPAREDNESS MONTH
WHEREAS, the month of September is recognized nationally as Preparedness Month by the
President of the United States and Department of Homeland Security to raise
awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Carolinians of Orange County Partnership's 2007 Community Health
Assessment revealed that 53% of homes surveyed did not have a household
emergency plan and that 56% of homes surveyed did not have all the essential
items needed for a sudden evacuation; and
WHEREAS, the September 2004 Rapid Community Health and Needs Assessment data
collected by the NC Division of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control
after Hurricanes Isabel and Charley showed that power outages caused by the
storms restricted residents (especially those with lower incomes) from accessing
medical care, food, and water; and
WHEREAS, the month of September has in the past been a period of high hurricane and
tropical storm activity for the State of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has a strong emergency response system that includes
emergency services, public health, social services, fire, rescue, law enforcement,
UNC Health Care, water rescue, animal protection, public information officers,
and citizen volunteer groups; and
WHEREAS, multiple agencies within Orange County work in partnership and individually to
educate the general public, businesses, faith and community based
organizations about the importance of emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, multiple agencies within Orange County work in partnership and individually to
respond to and recover from local emergencies; and
WHEREAS, proclaiming September as Orange County Preparedness Month will bring more
attention to the need for individual and family preparedness among Orange
County residents, and information provided during the month of September
about emergency preparedness will be beneficial throughout the year;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim
September 2008 as Orange County Preparedness Month.
This the 19th day of August 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners