In the months following the April 27 tornadoes, residents may be curious about what resources are available locally following a disaster.The Governor has declared September as "Be Ready Month in Alabama.” It is an awareness campaign to encourage citizens to be prepared for disasters and know what to do in case of a disaster. The Limestone County Be Ready Day will be held at the City of Athens Sportsplex from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Many of the community’s emergency and volunteer resources will be on display as part of the second annual Be Ready Day at the Limestone County Event Center.
The free event, hosted by Limestone County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A free lunch will be available from noon to 1 p.m.
Groups that will be participating in Be Ready Day include the Limestone County Emergency Management Agency, local law enforcement and fire departments and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
Daphne Ellison of the Limestone County EMA said the purpose behind the event is to give the community a glimpse of the special services available in the event of a disaster.
“After the tornadoes, emergency response took on a different outlook with everybody, including us,” she said. “This will help us be better prepared to communicate with the public if this ever happens again, and I hope it doesn’t.”
Be Ready Day will feature agencies and their respective equipment arsenals, including the Limestone County Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter and mobile command vehicle. The Athens Police Department, fire departments and medical response units will also have specialized equipment on display.
Other participating agencies include the National Weather Service in Huntsville, E-911 and the American Red Cross. The Limestone County Health Department will also provide flu vaccines for anyone 18 and older. The cost is $2 if residents do not present their Medicare Care Card.
“It will give people who don’t see how things normally operate a chance to learn more about what we do,” Ellison said. “It’s a very good learning experience.”
Kyle Jeffreys, president of Limestone County VOAD, said the event will also give people a chance to learn more about an association that helped many residents following the tornadoes — Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
Jeffreys, who works with the group, was sent to Rainsville after a tornado devastated that town. His wife, Charlotte Jeffreys, prepared food for storm victims at Camp Helen in Capshaw.
He said following any disaster, the group finds out where help is needed most and mobilizes. Not only has the team cleaned up after tornadoes, but also after hurricanes in coastal areas.
“I think (Be Ready Day) will help people understand what a resource this is,” Jeffreys said. “A lot of people didn’t know they had agencies here that could help clean up their home and yard at no charge. It’s a ministry that we want people to understand and know more about.”
The free event, hosted by Limestone County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A free lunch will be available from noon to 1 p.m.
Groups that will be participating in Be Ready Day include the Limestone County Emergency Management Agency, local law enforcement and fire departments and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
Daphne Ellison of the Limestone County EMA said the purpose behind the event is to give the community a glimpse of the special services available in the event of a disaster.
“After the tornadoes, emergency response took on a different outlook with everybody, including us,” she said. “This will help us be better prepared to communicate with the public if this ever happens again, and I hope it doesn’t.”
Be Ready Day will feature agencies and their respective equipment arsenals, including the Limestone County Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter and mobile command vehicle. The Athens Police Department, fire departments and medical response units will also have specialized equipment on display.
Other participating agencies include the National Weather Service in Huntsville, E-911 and the American Red Cross. The Limestone County Health Department will also provide flu vaccines for anyone 18 and older. The cost is $2 if residents do not present their Medicare Care Card.
“It will give people who don’t see how things normally operate a chance to learn more about what we do,” Ellison said. “It’s a very good learning experience.”
Kyle Jeffreys, president of Limestone County VOAD, said the event will also give people a chance to learn more about an association that helped many residents following the tornadoes — Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
Jeffreys, who works with the group, was sent to Rainsville after a tornado devastated that town. His wife, Charlotte Jeffreys, prepared food for storm victims at Camp Helen in Capshaw.
He said following any disaster, the group finds out where help is needed most and mobilizes. Not only has the team cleaned up after tornadoes, but also after hurricanes in coastal areas.
“I think (Be Ready Day) will help people understand what a resource this is,” Jeffreys said. “A lot of people didn’t know they had agencies here that could help clean up their home and yard at no charge. It’s a ministry that we want people to understand and know more about.”
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