RED OUT 2012

1. Nearly 60 million Americans suffer from heart disease today. Heart Disease is the number one killer in our county.  We need help.

2. Each year about 700,000 Americans have a new or repeat stroke. Over 150,000 of them die, making stroke the third leading cause of death. We need help.

3. While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, 1 in 3 women die from cardiovascular disease.  Every dollar helps conduct research.

4. Every 29 seconds an American will suffer a coronary event.  Every dollar helps save lives.

October 5^th will be a home football game and our second annual Red Out!!! Reach/SADD is spreading the word of the importance of healthy heart care and giving all a chance to once again contribute to the American Heart Association by purchasing a Red Out t-shirt to wear to the Red Out game!!  The cost is $12. If you are interested in ordering a t-shirt, you can do so at Glenwood High School.  We have a limited number of shirts, and it would take some time to order more, so the sooner you place your orders, the better. Checks are to be made out to the American Heart Association.

Thanks!!

Kathleen Loeffelbein and Reach/SADD

Wednesday, October 3rd from 11Am – 1Pm at the Glenwood Square and Malvern Main Street Path,  Mills County will join with thousands of other Iowans in a one-kilometer Healthiest State Walk any time between 11:00am-1:00pm.  Local walkers will meet in Glenwood at the Square or in Malvern on Main Street beginning at the Extension Office and walk at least 12 minutes.  Residents unable to attend the above sites are encouraged to participate by walking in their current locations.

State organizers hope to involve even more that the 291,000 plus Iowans who participated in the Healthiest State Initiative’s “Start Somewhere” walk in 2011.  Walkers can sign up for the event at www.iowahealthieststate.com.

In Mills County, the walk on October 3rd will serve as a kick off to the “Walk on Wednesdays” initiative.  People of all ages are encouraged to walk for at least 12 minutes every Wednesday, between 11am-1pm.  The idea is to begin establishing a positive health habit by getting moving each week.

For more information, visit www.iowahealthieststate.com or contact Allie Ford at Mills Co. Public Health, 527-9699 or allief@msph.us.

There are seats available for this:

September 19th @ Glenwood Legion Hall 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM.  Would encourage each city and county department to send a representative.  Course is also an excellent fit for businesses, non-profits and school districts.

To register, click on link below.  If you don’t have a training account with Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, just follow the step by step directions.  If you encounter difficulties with website, please contact my offcie for assistance.

To register for this course—Essential Records w/ COOP-COG log into our training site.

If disaster strikes your place of business, how will you continue the most essential functions and services you provide? If you have to operate out of another facility, will you have access to all the essential records and resources that you will need? Do you even know what they are? This workshop will help participants find the answers to these questions. Participants will discover the elements needed to ensure continuity of operations (COOP) and continuity of governance (COG) under all circumstances, with a special focus on ensuring that essential records are preserved and available. Workshop participants will learn to identify what records are essential and how to protect them. Risks and hazards will be identified and evaluated. Participants will learn mitigation strategies to ensure the availability of essential records and other resources necessary to continue operations even in the face of disaster. By the end of the training, participants will have a clear understanding of what should be in their COOP/COG plan and even have a start on the plan.

September is Family Preparedness Month in Iowa
Iowans urged to “Pledge to Prepare”

DES MOINES – Governor Terry E. Branstad has proclaimed September Family Preparedness Month in Iowa. This year, Iowans are being encouraged to take a pledge to be better prepared for all emergencies and disasters.

“We encourage Iowans to ‘Pledge to Prepare,’ during Family Preparedness Month,” said HSEMD Administrator Mark Schouten. “Pledging can be as easy as setting up weather alerts on your mobile phone or vowing to pick up a few items each week at the grocery store to stock your emergency supply kit.”

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD), Safeguard Iowa Partnership (SIP) and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) are partnering to encourage Iowans to take a pledge to be more prepared for emergencies and disasters.

HSEMD, SIP and IEMA are asking Iowans to take a Pledge to Prepare by taking just one simple step to be more prepared for emergencies. The pledge can be found at www.beready.iowa.gov, www.safeguardiowa.org or www.iowaema.com.

“Preparedness Month is essential to Iowa because it reminds everyone about taking the extra steps to better prepare you, your family, your business and your community,” said SIP Executive Director Jami Haberl. “By taking the Pledge to Prepare, you are taking the necessary steps to becoming better prepared for when an emergency or disaster strikes your community.”

In addition to the evident benefits of being better prepared, those who take the pledge may be eligible to win prizes by entering the Pledge to Prepare contest. Individuals, families and groups are invited to record and submit a video showing how they are taking the pledge. Videos must be submitted by Sept. 20. HSEMD, SIP and IEMA will choose the top five videos and ask the public to select their favorite in an online vote Sept. 24-28.

Iowans who don’t submit a video may still enter their Pledge to Prepare in a random drawing. Pledges may be submitted online or via FAX through Sept. 30. Winners for the contest and drawing will be announced Oct. 1. Target has joined HSEMD, SIP and IEMA in this effort and will provide gift cards and a NOAA weather radio as prizes for the contest and drawing. SIP is also providing emergency preparedness kits to contest and drawing winners.

“The best way to reduce panic is through preparedness. We are all much more clear of mind and rational in our response if we take the time before a disaster strikes to: one, have a plan; two, put together a kit; and three, know how to keep ourselves and our families informed of changing conditions during a disaster,” said Polk County Emergency Management Director and IEMA Vice President A.J. Mumm.  “Take the pledge to be better prepared today than you were yesterday and be even more prepared tomorrow than you are today.”

Family Preparedness Month was created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in an effort to educate the public on how to prepare for emergencies.

For more information on Family Preparedness Month and the Pledge to Prepare Contest and Drawing, visit www.beready.iowa.gov, www.safeguardiowa.org or www.iowaema.com. Web banners and logos for Family Preparedness Month can be downloaded at www.beready.iowa.gov/resources/pledge_to_prepare.html.

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Stefanie Bond | Public Information Officer
Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Camp Dodge, Bldg. W-4| Johnston, Iowa |(515) 725-3231

www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov | www.facebook.com/IowaHSEMD

“Pledge to Prepare” this September!

www.beready.iowa.gov