Oakland, CA – May 25, 2011:  Everyone is invited on Thursday, May 26, 2011 (between 10am–3pm) to the Get Ready! Public Emergency Preparedness Fair held at the Oakland Coliseum (7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland; BART accessible, Coliseum Station). The fair will include raffles, gifts, trainings, vendors and demonstrations! There will also be information on volunteer opportunities as well as FREE Whooping Cough Vaccinations while supplies last.  

CARD – Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters – will be holding onsite preparedness trainings on their SKIP (Safety Kept In Place) Kits. SKIP Kits are made from inexpensive, everyday objects that can serve as powerful preparedness tools in the event of a disaster. The first 1,000 people to complete the short training will receive a FREE SKIP Kit. CARD trainings will be given in English, Spanish and ASL (American Sign Language).

“Everyone is invited to CARD’s area.  We’ll have giveaways such as Potty Posters, wallet cards, and candy. Our trainings will show people how creative they can be AND that they are more prepared than they think. This is the fun part of preparedness!” says Âna-Marie Jones, Executive Director, CARD.

This event is organized by the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD).  For more information on the Public Emergency Preparedness Fair, please contact Zerlyn Ladua at 510-208-5962or Zerlyn.ladua@acgov.org or visit www.ACPHD.org.

Other Get Ready! Preparedness Fair participants include the American Red Cross and the ACPHD iWHACK Germs program.

For info on CARD’s trainings and alternatives to traditional emergency preparedness, please contact Âna-Marie Jones at 510-451-3140 or AMJ@CARDcanhelp.org. More info and giveaways will be offered on:

www.Facebook.com/CARDcanhelp ~ http://CARDcanhelp.org/Blog ~ www.Twitter.com/CARDcanhelp

CARD was created after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake by local nonprofits to address the preparedness and response needs of agencies serving vulnerable consumers.  CARD has created an alternative curriculum and a fear-free approach to fit the cultures, structures and budgets of the nonprofit sector.

CARD’s work to prepare nonprofits and vulnerable communities is made possible by: Alameda County Public Health Department, Alameda County OES, United Way of the Bay Area, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, City of Oakland, San Francisco Foundation, and many individual nonprofit agencies.

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May 26th, 2011 | Tags: CARD, communication, community, Couch Potato Preparedness, emergency preparedness, go kit, go-kits, Planning, Preparedness, Public Health | Category: Alameda County, CARD Tools, Public Health, Useful Tools | Leave a comment

Humans struggled with various ways of lugging  their belongings with them for most of history before some brilliant person thought to put wheels on suitcases. The simple addition of wheels can transform your disaster response supply cache from a stationary asset into a moveable and immediately accessible treasure trove of preparedness.

Rolling carts, containers, backpacks, duffle bags, and suitcases come in a wide variety of sizes, materials, and wheel types. You can get them at hardware, luggage, and big box stores, or nonprofit thrift stores (i.e., Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, or Salvation Army).

Whether it’s personal preparedness items for individuals, an agency go-kit for a business, or a massive cache for an entire neighborhood: make sure you have rolling suitcases or carts handy to grab, roll, and go!

Tip: Backpacks with both wheels and shoulder straps make excellent agency go-kits!

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March 14th, 2011 | Tags: agency, clever, divergent, go kit, go-kits, Off-the-Shelf, personal, resources | Category: 2011, STAT, STAT 5MM | Comments (1)

Packing an emergency Go Kit with basic preparedness supplies is good advice.  But while lists of contents are easy to find, details about the kit itself are often overlooked.

To be practical and usable in an emergency, a Go Kit should be the right size, weight and design for the person who will use it. Some of the best Go Kits are lightweight and flexible. For example: a backpack with roller wheels can be pulled or worn, and a tote bag with long handles can be carried, worn like a backpack, or tied to a wheelchair.  For people with limited strength, mobility or ability, emergency supplies can be divided into several smaller kits or stashed in the pockets of a safari-type vest or jacket.

Everyone should have at least a small kit, with some critical preparedness or comfort items.

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August 3rd, 2009 | Tags: diversity, go-kits, supplies | Category: STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

Every summer, millions of people take vacations, visit the beach, go camping, or just pack up to attend a concert, fair or festival. The skills, knowledge and resources used to pack for these outings can help anyone be ready for an emergency. Some people are list-writers , who pack only what they need; others pack based on the space available. What’s important to realize is that people know how to do this, and that they can apply those same skills to being more prepared. Consider packing a Go-Kit when you pack for summer fun; picking up some spare, useful travel items; or moving unused resources into a Go-Kit upon return. Ditch the “impending doom” scenario, and think of it as always being ready for a worry-free, unscheduled camping trip!

http://www.cardcanhelp.org/gokits

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July 13th, 2009 | Tags: go-kits, skills, Travel | Category: STAT 5MM | Comments (1)