Philadelphia Offers Emergency Preparedness Workshop For Community Agencies
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Agencies affiliated with the Salvation Army in Philadelphia today received a road map of sorts to make sure that their clients are prepared in case of emergencies.
At this "how-to" workshop, the impending storm provided a reminder of why emergency planning is important.
The provided checklist includes what to have in your head, in your home, and in your hand, according to Elizabeth Lewis of the Philadelphia managing director's Office of Emergency Management (standing in center of photo).
"We try to get people to have their family emergency plan, their family emergency kit, and to prepare for any kind of emergencies," including storms, power outages, or other unforseen circumstances such as terrorism, Lewis explained.
Among the recommendations: talk to your family about how to stay in contact, and decide on two places to meet -- one right outside your home or close to it, and another outside your immediate neighborhood.
Detective Joe Rovnan of the Philadelphia police department's Bureau of Counterterrorism reminded attendees to always be observant.
"If it's suspicious to you and it tickles your senses, it's something you should report," he said.
And he says the Boston Marathon attacks were a reminder.
"This is something that will happen on our watch, during our lifetime. We need to prepare for that."