Events help you prepare for emergencies
By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News June 6, 2012 11:56PM
If you go …
What: Gear Up, Get Ready emergency preparedness fair
When: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday (Touch a Truck), 4-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Touch a Truck at Dellwood Park in Lockport; Friday evening fair is at the Spanish Community Center, 309 N. Eastern Ave., Joliet; main fair will be at the Des Plaines Street Community Center, 220 Des Plaines St., Joliet
What: On Saturday, the free event includes free lunch, giveaways, games, family fun activities and picture booth.
Updated: July 8, 2012 6:48PM
JOLIET — What is your communications plan in the event of an emergency? Do you know what information 911 needs if you must place a call? How do you safely shut off your electricity?
This weekend, take advantage of at least one of three local events that will help prepare you and your family for action should that flood, tornado or winter storm watch occur. Nearly 20 community partners have joined together to make such resources — such as building an emergency preparedness kit — completely accessible.
“We want people to be prepared in case they’re told to evacuate, and we want them to know what to do while waiting for the police to arrive,” said Brenda A. Lutz, deputy director for preparedness at the Will County Emergency Management Agency. “We want them to know what a communication plan means and to have information written down.”
Here’s another “what if.” Should you need to cut power to your house, whether you have breakers or fuses, do you understand how to safely do it?
“Many people don’t understand you just don’t flip the main switch,” Lutz said. “You have to first click off each breaker.”
There will be plenty for the children to experience, too. At the Touch a Truck event on Friday, kids will receive hands-on experiences with emergency and other public works vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances.
Friday night’s Gear Up, Get Ready event will be similar to the one hosted the next day at the Des Plaines Street Community Center, complete with booths from such organizations as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, except the activities will be presented on a smaller scale.
A bonus on Saturday: While the parents are busy learning emergency preparedness techniques, members from Grace Bible Church in Minooka will keep the children busy with coloring, crafts and other activities. The Will County Health Department’s dental van will also be at Saturday’s fair.
Finally parents, before you leave the event, if you don’t have a photo ID card for your child, be certain to obtain one from the Joliet Police Department, who will be at Saturday’s fair providing them.
