Mayoral Report—2005

Important Information to Help You!

This special issue of Your City is in response to requests from citizens to supply as much information as we can to assist families in preparation for natural or man–made disasters. Much of this information was supplied about two years ago, but with recent events related to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf States, we thought it important to provide valuable, life–saving information when you have asked for it and we have people’s attention.

Like you, I have been awed by the damage and devastation left behind by the hurricane. Admittedly, New Orleans is in a uniquely vulnerable position of where it was developed and the lack of true safeguards to protect it from a major hurricane. However, many other parts of the Gulf States have been equally damaged and destroyed. Many people were caught off–guard and were not adequately prepared to help themselves immediately following such a large scale disaster. Our goal, in this issue of Your City, is to help you assess your readiness for disaster and what to do to help safeguard your family to deal with disaster in the short term following an event.

It will be virtually impossible, in the event of a large–scale disaster, for the City and other emergency responders to tend to everyone immediately. Emergency responders will need to assist the most impacted first. Because of this, it is important that you prepare your family and household to help yourself in the first hours following a disaster. We have included valuable information to prepare and maintain a 72–Hour Disaster Kit to assist your family.

A fluorescent green Family Locator Chart is inserted into this issue of Your City. It includes information to reach or locate family members, which might be difficult to assemble in a disaster when timing may be very important or you’re away from home. It will help give you and your family members peace of mind.

We have included other important information in this issue. Beaverton’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program provides an organized training class to teach citizens how to help themselves, their families and provide assistance to neighbors in the event of a large natural or made–made disaster. It is a worthwhile program that will help strengthen neighborhood safety in the event of a disaster. Information how to care for pets during a disaster and what to do during a major earthquake is also provided. Important phone numbers and computer Web sites containing additional disaster preparation are also provided in this issue.

Please take the time to carefully read this issue and then prepare your family for a potential natural or man–made disaster. We can learn from the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and watching people in the Gulf States struggling with survival. Our goal is a safe community.

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