Imagine sitting in your family room watching the Superbowl Game when there is a knock at your door.  It’s a policeman or firefighter who tells you gas has been detected in the sewer system and you have five minutes to leave your home and you cannot return for three days.  Five minutes!  What do you take and how can you gather everything you will need.
 
Ellis County Emergency Management Coordinator Stephanie Parker visited the Rotary Club to discuss this and other situations.  Emergency Management works to insure preparedness for all types of hazzards such as tornados, floods, earthquakes, power outages, hazardous material problems, epidemics and winter weather.  As our county’s designated coordinator it is her responsibility to make sure all of the first responders, medical facilities and infrastructure are working together and training to handle disasters such as the recent tornados and the gas explosion that destroyed several homes near Reagor Springs.
 
The county judge and city mayor are the emergency management administrators but they have delegated authority to the coordinators such as Ms. Parker.  Either directly or indirectly she can summon help from local, county, district, state and federal agencies.
 
Back to the policeman giving you five minutes to move out, Ms. Parker suggests a “72 Hour Kit”. You keep this kit handy at all times for just this situation.  It should include:
                            72 Hour Kit
  • Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener
  • 1 gallon of water per person per day and don’t forget the pets.
  • Medications and prescriptions
  • < >
    Sanitary supplies
  • Battery operated phone chargers
 
As people found recently there may not be any power or utilities around for miles and for some time.  Surely your cell phone and computer are also important to you but it is most important to get safely away.
 
If you have questions or need more information you may contact Ms. Parker at 972-825-5193 or stephanie.parker@co.ellis.tx.us .
 
For more information about the Rotary Club of Waxahachie where we believe in Service Above Self and doing things as a club we cannot do alone, visit the club web site at www.waxahachierotary.org .  You can find American flag subscription applications on the web site. 
 
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