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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker September is National Preparedness Month The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is reminding all Pennsylvanians to be aware and be prepared throughout National Preparedness Month in September. There are a wide variety of emergencies that can strike at any time. However, there are simple steps that you can take to make sure that you and your family know what to do in such an event. For instance, PEMA recommends developing an emergency communication plan, as well as a plan for getting back together if individuals become separated during an emergency. Families should have two meeting spots, one outside the home as well as one outside the neighborhood in case they cannot return to their homes. PEMA also suggests establishing an out-of-state family member or friend as your family check-in contact, since it is often easier to place long-distance calls after a disaster. Another way to be prepared is to develop a disaster supply kit that includes a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food, a first-aid kit with prescription medicines, extra cash, flashlights and a battery-powered radio. Children can also be taught how and when to call 911, police, and the fire department, and which radio station to tune to for emergency information. More suggestions for preparing for emergencies, as well as fact sheets about various disasters, are available at www.pema.state.pa.us. Although we certainly hope that we will never have to use it, advance preparation and planning is the best way to help our families stay safe during an urgent situation. State Police offer risk and vulnerability assessments for certain sites Many of our state's institutions may be vulnerable to threats, security breaches and terrorism, and the Pennsylvania State Police have developed a specially trained team of troopers to evaluate these sites and make recommendations. The Risk & Vulnerability Assessment Team are trained to conduct assessments of public and private sites, including schools, water treatment facilities, power plants, bridges and tunnels. The Team identifies potential threats and vulnerability concerns, then provides a free confidential written report to the site owner addressing specific problem areas. For additional information or to schedule an assessment by the RVAT, requests can be made by e-mail at ra-pspoffdomesticsecurity@state.pa.us or by phone at 717-346-4085 or 717-346-2634. Maintaining the safety of Pennsylvania's food supply Recently, the state Department of Agriculture co-hosted a conference at St. Joseph's University to address food safety and emergency response in case of contamination. This conference brought together representatives of the food industry with regulatory, public and law enforcement agencies, and in one part, asked them to respond to a hypothetical situation in which intentional contamination of a local food supply had occurred. The participants discussed identification of the food source, the need to provide prompt and accurate information to the media and the public, and other necessary crisis management and follow-up activities. The Department of Agriculture and state Department of Health already work together with numerous public and private entities to address Pennsylvania's food safety efforts to ensure that our food supply "from farm to fork" remains protected. However, experiences like this conference help us understand the importance of a smooth, effective and efficient response plan, and the need to continually review that plan and identify weaknesses. Agriculture is our Commonwealth's number one industry, and having an awareness to protect our citizens and economy is of the utmost importance. I look forward to learning more about our state's efforts to protect citizens and to working on initiatives that work toward that goal.
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