Are You Ready? Emergency and Disaster Planning Tips

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It's probably easy to remember where you were and what you were doing last Sept. 11. America had been shaken, violently, and was still reeling when, the next month, the biological agent anthrax was introduced in the U.S. postal system. What was next? When would it end?

As we learned at this time of great uncertainty and rapidly unfolding events, there are no perfect emergency and disaster plans. For starters, as we learned last fall, it's impossible to predict and prepare for every emergency that might occur. But with a well-constructed emergency and disaster plan in place, a more expeditious and organized response can reduce injuries, save lives and minimize property losses. Because parks and recreation agencies are so woven into the fabric of American life, it's crucial that you have a well thought-out and practiced plan. If you think you're set in this regard because you have a program written out on a few sheets of paper, you're wrong.

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