The Allstate Foundation and Seattle Works invite Seattle residents to prepare for catastrophe at free kit-building event
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What constitutes a disaster? Certainly hurricanes, tornadoes and wild fires are disasters, but disasters also include events like extended power blackouts, house fires or floods. Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, with little or no warning, but it is possible to be prepared for them. Research from the Federal Emergency Management Agency found that 85 percent of Americans are not prepared for potential disasters, which inspired The Allstate Foundation and Points of Light to bring Good & Ready, an online and on-the-ground emergency preparedness program, to Seattle to help families and the community prepare for disasters.
On Saturday, September 28, 2013 at The Armory within Seattle Center, Seattle area residents will assemble 400 FREE disaster preparedness kits to take home for their families. While supplies last, the kits will include a hand-crank radio/flashlight, water bottle, dust mask, garbage bags and hand sanitizing wipes, among other items.
"This Good & Ready event is about helping people be more prepared for life's uncertainties," said Shauna McBride, Regional Spokesperson, Allstate Insurance "Everyone in Seattle can take simple steps to get prepared for a disaster, including spending a few minutes to build a kit that could be invaluable in the case of an emergency."
Good & Ready is supported by The Allstate Foundation and Points of Light, working in partnership with Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. The Allstate Foundation's involvement in the program is part of its new SaferLivesSM program, which provides important safety information to help people be aware of the risks in their lives and protect themselves and their loved ones.
To mark the launch of Good & Ready, The Allstate Foundation offers the following three steps to help your family prepare for a disaster:
Step 1: Build a disaster preparedness kit
If disaster strikes, you'll want to have supplies to help you and your family (including your pets) survive for at least three days. Your disaster preparedness kit should contain these basic supplies:
Water (one gallon per person, per day)
Ready-to-eat, nonperishable food (for family members and pets)
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Flashlight
First-aid kit
Whistle (to signal for help)
Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape
Moist towelettes and plastic garbage bags with ties (for sanitation)
Wrench or pliers
Local maps (to locate emergency services and shelters)
Extra batteries
For a complete list, visit www.Ready.gov/build-a-kit.
Step 2: Create a household emergency plan
A household emergency plan should include the following information:
Emergency contact names and numbers – mobile and landline (As an extra precaution, everyone in your family should program "In Case of Emergency," or ICE, contacts in their mobile phones so emergency personnel can contact them if needed)
Family meeting place in your neighborhood and an alternative meeting place in the region
Personal details for each family member (date of birth, important medical information, recent photos)
Addresses and phone numbers of the places family members frequent on a regular basis (work, school)
Contact information for medical providers (doctors, pharmacist, veterinarian)
Important medical and insurance information, including photocopies of your medical insurance card(s)
For a fill-in-the-blank household emergency plan and cards to download, print and keep close at hand, visit www.Ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Step 3: Help your community get ready for a disaster
The strength of a community comes from each person who lives in it. By raising your hand to help your community prepare for a potential disaster, you can help people respond to and recover from an emergency situation.
Visit www.GoodandReady.org, go to the "Resources" page, and then click "Get Trained" to find a disaster volunteer team near you.
About Good & Ready
Good & Ready is a national collaborative, online and on-the-ground emergency preparedness engagement initiative led by Points of Light, working in partnership with Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. The Good & Ready partner organizations share one goal: to help 1.5 million Americans be more prepared for disasters by 2015. By empowering individuals, families and communities to volunteer and become better prepared, Good & Ready aims to create a more disaster-resilient nation. For more information, tools, tips and preparedness event resources, visit www.GoodandReady.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light is the leading volunteer organization with more than 20 years of history and a bipartisan presidential legacy. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized into three divisions: Programs, Civic Incubator and Action Networks, which include HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 local volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, our enterprise that enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
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Contact:
Shauna McBride
425.489.5516 or 206.612.8718
Shauna.McBride@Allstate.com or @AllstateNW