Ready Georgia

Ready Georgia is a statewide emergency preparedness campaign in the U.S. state of Georgia instituted by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and Governor Sonny Perdue in conjunction with the national Ready America campaign sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ready Georgia is supported by The Ad Council, local volunteer organizations, and corporate partnerships.

Ready Georgia
FoundedJanuary 2008
TypePublic Awareness
FocusDisaster Preparedness
Location
Area served
The State of Georgia
OwnerGEMA
Key people
Charley English, Director of Homeland Security for GEMA
WebsiteReady Georgia

Mission
Governor Sonny Perdue, GEMA/OHS director Charley English, Ready Kids mascot Rex the mountain lion, and Georgia elementary school students pose during Ready Georgia's official launch at the state capital building.

GEMA created the Ready Georgia campaign in response to survey data revealing that nearly 80 percent of Georgia residents had not taken even the most basic steps towards being prepared for the wide range of natural and man-made disasters that threaten the state.[1] Ready Georgia intends to "promote a preparedness and prevention culture" in Georgia through public education and outreach.[2] The campaign specifically encourages residents to be prepared so they can safely oversee their own evacuation and maintain self-sufficiency for a full three days after an emergency.[3]

Education and outreach

One of Ready Georgia's primary concerns is ensuring that individuals and households have an adequately stocked ready kit, which is essential in maintaining awareness and self-sufficiency in the wake of a disaster. Through a partnership with the Home Depot corporation, Ready Georgia has been able to put on statewide workshops that teach children about disaster preparedness.[4] Utilizing its Web site, Ready Georgia has also been able to provide a tool that can assist users in calculating exactly how much food and water they will need for their own kits.[5] Notable Georgians such as Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan, and former Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur participated by creating profiles on Ready Georgia's Web site letting Georgians know what is in their ready kits.

Georgia's 5th graders were able to enter a Ready Georgia art and essay contest, for which they were asked to submit work demonstrating how they are their families would prepare for a variety of disasters. The winners received their own ready kits from Home Depot, as well as personal and school recognition on Ready Georgia's Web site.[6]

In 2009, Ready Georgia was able to provide Georgia residents with 200 NOAA weather radio receivers at no cost and many more at a reduced price, in an effort to acknowledge and address the fact that economically disadvantaged citizens face greater challenges in the face of a disaster and are often unprepared.[7]

Ready Georgia has additionally sought to address the economic impact of disasters through the development of materials stressing the importance of proper business continuity planning to Georgia-based businesses. This is especially critical in the Atlanta metro area, which is home to the fourth most Fortune 500 company headquarters among all cities in America.[8]

Emergencies addressed since inception

In September 2009, Georgia experienced significant flooding, resulting in a state of emergency being declared for 17 counties.[9] Awareness and preparation are critical elements of an effective response to flooding, which often necessitates evacuation and cuts off access to supplies of food and clean water. The importance of flood insurance in mitigating the social and economic damage caused by flooding is another awareness and preparedness issue for anyone facing the prospect of flooding; Ready Georgia has sought to address all of these issues.[10]

H1N1 influenza, known commonly as "swine flu", has been a health issue of public concern since early 2009, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.[11] The Georgia Department of Community Health Division of Public Health and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency have used the Ready Georgia campaign to disseminate preparedness information to Georgians.[12]

References
  1. Ready Georgia finds Georgians aren't ready, The Effingham Herald, June 15, 2009
  2. Lisa Janak Newman (November 10, 2008), Ready Georgia Campaign Provides Tools for Residents to Be Prepared, The Georgia Emergency Management Agency
  3. "Severe Weather Awareness Week" Proclaimed By Governor Purdue, Ready Georgia, November 10, 2008, archived from the original on October 16, 2009
  4. The Home Depot Partners with GEMA's Ready Georgia to Teach Thousands of Kids about Emergency Preparedness, The Fayette Front Page, August 10, 2009
  5. Georgia wants you to spend week getting ready for disaster, The Gainesville Times, February 2, 2009, archived from the original on July 31, 2012
  6. Congratulations to our "Get Ready Georgia" Art and Essay Contest Winners!, Ready Georgia
  7. WSB-TV Teams With Ready Georgia To Save Lives, WSB-TV Online, March 20, 2009, archived from the original on June 21, 2009
  8. The Fortune 500, 2009, CNN Money, November 2, 2009
  9. Gov. Sonny Perdue issues state of emergency for 17 Georgia counties, Savannah Now, September 21, 2009
  10. "Get Ready for Floods and Flash Floods". Ready Georgia. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  11. World Health Organization, June 11, 2009
  12. Good Day Atlanta, Fox 5 TV Atlanta, September 11, 2009
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