Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Coalition launches National Preparedness Month campaign
Hamilton County Disaster recovery fund being established
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"Preparing Today. For Tomorrow." encourages residents to prepare now while strengthening Hamilton County's ability to respond and recover
When an emergency happens, the time to prepare has already passed.
That is the message behind "Preparing Today. For Tomorrow.", a countywide National Preparedness Month campaign being launched this September by the Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Coalition.
The coalition is made up of organizations throughout Hamilton County that play key roles in emergency response, recovery and community support. Together, coalition members work to strengthen communication, coordination and resources so Hamilton County is better prepared when an emergency or disaster occurs.
Throughout September, the campaign will focus on preparedness at both the individual and community level. Residents will be encouraged to consider the steps they can take now to prepare themselves, their families and their businesses, while also learning more about the organizations, partnerships and resources that help Hamilton County respond and recover.
"The question is not if Hamilton County will face another emergency or disaster. The question is when," said Darcy Swon, Executive Director of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation and a member of the coalition. "The goal is to have the partnerships, processes and financial resources in place before they are needed so our community can respond more quickly when something happens."
Hamilton County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Zahn said individual preparedness also plays an important role in how quickly a community can recover.
"Preparedness is something every one of us can be part of," Zahn said. "The better prepared individuals, families and businesses are before an emergency, the faster our entire community can begin to recover afterward. We want people thinking about their emergency plans, communications, supplies and the steps they can take now to be ready."
As part of the countywide preparedness effort, the Hamilton County Disaster Recovery Fund is being established through the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation. The fund provides a trusted charitable giving resource to support eligible organizations involved in disaster response and recovery efforts throughout Hamilton County.
"The Disaster Recovery Fund is not only there to receive gifts after an emergency occurs," Swon said. "Donors can support the fund at any time, allowing us to build resources in advance so funding is ready to help our local response and recovery organizations hit the ground running when disaster strikes."
Swon said having the fund established before an emergency also provides an organized way to respond when community members want to help.
"After a disaster, there is often an immediate outpouring of generosity," she said. "Having the fund and processes already in place allows us to receive charitable gifts, provide donors with the appropriate tax documentation and efficiently get resources to eligible organizations helping our communities recover."
Throughout National Preparedness Month, coalition partners will share information about personal and family preparedness, emergency planning, community response resources, organizations involved in disaster response, how disaster recovery funding works and ways residents and businesses can help strengthen Hamilton County's preparedness.
Residents will be encouraged to think about questions such as how family members would communicate during an emergency, what supplies should be available, how important documents could be accessed, and what plans are in place if utilities, transportation or other everyday services are temporarily disrupted.
The campaign will also highlight the many organizations that may be called upon when an emergency affects Hamilton County, including emergency management, public health, healthcare providers, first responders, food assistance organizations, volunteer groups and other community partners.
"Preparedness is not the responsibility of any one organization," Zahn said. "It takes individuals, families, businesses, local governments and community organizations all doing their part. The work we do before something happens can make a significant difference in how well Hamilton County responds and recovers afterward."
Additional preparedness resources, information about coalition partners and details about the Hamilton County Disaster Recovery Fund will be shared at enhancehamiltoncounty.org/disaster-recovery and through participating organizations.
Preparing today helps ensure Hamilton County is ready for tomorrow.
About the Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Coalition
The Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Coalition brings together organizations involved in emergency preparedness, response, recovery and community support to strengthen coordination, share resources and help Hamilton County prepare for emergencies and disasters.