The First 72 Are On You

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By Debbie Williams Reporter

M60o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr The First 72 Are On You

Published: Tue, March 18, 2008 - 4:38 pm

Debbie Williams

Hurricanes are something we're all too familiar with on the Gulf Coast. When one approaches, people either choose to evacuate or ride out the storm. But Baldwin County officials have a message for those who want to weather the storm at home. Their new campaign is aimed at making sure people know they are on their own for the first 72 hours after the storm.
September, 2004, hurricane Ivan slams into the Alabama coast line. It's hard to forget what life was like afterwards. Art Moore weathered the storm in Pensacola but his home was on Perdido Key. "It was terrible it destroyed everything we had it destroyed our whole little island we lived on and made it unlivable for about two years "
Roads were blocked either by water or debris, electricity was out, essential we depend on every day, gone.
Baldwin County is launching a new campaign to help folks be better prepared when disaster strikes. "'The First 72 That's On You' is pretty much citizen participation in readying their homes by being prepared themselves with medications, flashlights, first aid supplies, those type of things if they choose not to evacuate be able to be prepared for 72 hours." Baldwin County Emergency Management Director Leigh Ann Ryals says 72 hours, three days of food, water, batteries, fuel and whatever you need to take care of yourself because while you are doing that first responders are making sure everything else is okay.
"So our life sustaining initiative is first and foremost, after that bridges and roads, to make sure they are safe for the traveling public, then start to bring in ice, water and Meals Ready to Eat."
Posters are going up around the county both in English and Spanish. Hurricane season starts in two and a half months.
Some items Ryals suggest you may want to think about stockpiling in your survival kit: food, water, prescription medication, fuel, batteries and a radio.
For more information contact the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency at (251) 972-6807.

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