State marks Indiana Preparedness Week
Comet staff report

Governor Mitch Daniels proclaimed Sept. 9-15 as Indiana Preparedness Week. State officials are urging residents and businesses to take steps to be prepared in the event of terrorist attacks, weather-related emergencies or pandemic influenza.

Hoosiers can greatly reduce the risk of death, injury and loss of property by staying informed, forming an emergency plan and compiling a home emergency kit.

"It's important for families to have a three-day emergency kit," State Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe said. "Ideally, an emergency kit should hold a family for as long as three weeks."

An emergency kit should contain the following:

• One gallon of bottled water per person per day;

• enough canned and packaged food for each member of the family;

• clothes;

• essential prescription medications;

• a flashlight with extra batteries, or a hand-crank flashlight;

• a manual can opener;

• a battery-powered or handcrank radio;

• personal hygiene products including toothbrush, soap and toilet paper; and

• a first aid kit.

J. Eric Dietz of the State Department of Homeland Security said families should prepare for emergencies before disaster strikes because local responders could be overwhelmed in the event of a catastrophy.

Visit www.statehealth.in.gov or www.in.gov/dhs for information on Indiana Preparedness Week and emergency preparedness.