CERT

Recently the Shelby County Office of Preparedness HLS/EMA, under the direction of Bob Nations, Jr., issued their first "Preparedness Challenge."

The call went out to solicit suggestions from citizens on how to improve Shelby County's preparedness efforts.

Amanda Kohr took the challenge and won first place with her original idea.

Kohr suggested that businesses, congregations and community groups should hold donation drives twice a year to establish group emergency kits. She said, "If each employee, student, or group member brings one or two inexpensive items for a community kit, then a fully stocked kit could be created easily. Think about the old "stone soup" story, If everyone pitches in, then everyone benefits."

Once the kit is established, Kohr suggests the next donation drive could be expanded to replace expired items. Groups could make the donation drive a fun contest among work areas, Sunday school classes, neighborhood blocks, or classrooms. Individuals could donate the less expensive items of $5 or less and ask businesses, school, or congregations to purchase the big ticket items such as a NOAA weather radio, first aid kit, and ABC fire extinguisher.

For sharing her innovative idea, Kohr was invited down to the Shelby County Emergency Operations Center to meet with Cheryl Yarbro, Interim Manager Of Operations.

Yarbro congratulated Kohr and presented her with an ALERT FM receiver that displays messages directly from the Office of Preparedness, a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) emergency kit, a rain poncho, a light stick, a DUCK, COVER and HOLD poster, an emergency blanket, the "Are You Ready?" FEMA book, preparedness brochures and DVD's. Kohr is also a graduate of the CERT disaster preparedness training.

Yarbro said of Kohr's idea, "With any disaster, the citizens are the first ones on the scene. If we take the time to encourage their preparedness ideas, we could potentially create a partnership that will save lives and get us back on our feet much sooner. We thank Amanda Kohr for participating in the Preparedness Challenge. We hope others will read this and implement the "donation drive - community kit" idea for their business, school or church."

To find out more about emergency preparedness, please visit www.staysafeshelby.us, www.readyshelby.us or email citizencorps@shelbycountytn.gov.