FW: DSHS News Release: Texas Survival Stories Show Need for Disaster Plans

[Guest guest]

Texas Department of State Health Services

NEWS RELEASE

May 11, 2011

Texas Survival Stories Show Need for Disaster Plans

The Texas Department of State Health Services has released its Surviving

Disaster: How Texans Prepare documentary series about Texas disasters

and emergency preparation.

The series is now available to view online at TexasPrepares.org.

" The series puts a human face on disasters and reinforces how to

prepare, " said Dr. Lakey, DSHS commissioner. " We are putting the

documentaries into the hands of people across Texas so they can hold a

screening locally, share them with others and create or improve their

disaster plans. "

This short-documentary series shows the impact a disaster can have on a

community. The series features Texans telling stories of survival and

sharing lessons they learned. Six eight-minute stories, produced in

English and Spanish, make up the series. They are called:

* Surviving Hurricanes: Grab It and Go - Galveston and Bolivar

Peninsula

* A Community Rebuilds: Recovering From Wildfires - Montague

County

* Back to Business: Planning for Disasters - Beaumont

* Ready for Anything: Preparing for the Next Flood - Del Rio

* Winds of Destruction: A County's Lessons - Maverick County

* Facing Disasters: A Plan for Work and Home - Rio Grande Valley

The videos will be used as a tool for preparedness workers and community

organizations to promote disaster preparedness in their areas. The

contents of the DVD " extras " folder and documents at TexasPrepares.org

can help viewers create their plans.

" Each year brings the threat of disasters and emergencies to Texas -

from hurricanes and floods to tornadoes and wildfires, " said W. Nim

Kidd, Chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management. " Being prepared for

emergencies can help save lives and protect property. These videos are

an excellent tool to help build public awareness about the need for

everyone to have emergency plans in place. "

" The series helps people visualize the impact of disasters and compels

them to make a plan, " Lakey said.

The series was produced as part of the state's Ready or Not campaign.

Originally launched in 2007, Ready or Not is an ongoing multilingual

public education campaign of DSHS to encourage Texans to prepare for

emergencies. Through the campaign, the state provides resources that can

be used locally to help Texans prepare, respond and recover if disaster

strikes.

House Bill 1831 of the 81st Legislative Session directed DSHS to

establish a program to educate Texans on disaster preparedness and

appropriated funds for the effort, which includes the documentary

series.

-30-

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