About 80 members of the Pride of Wall Seniors group learned about a new disaster preparedness program offered by the Monmouth County Sheriff on Tuesday.
The program is called STORM – Seniors Taking On Readiness Measures – and is designed to help senior citizens, often one of the most vulnerable populations in an emergency, to prepare for an emergency situation.
The program offers emergency preparedness information, helps to create a family emergency plan and offers an emergency kit. The county Office of Emergency Management is traveling throughout Monmouth presenting the program to seniors groups.
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“STORM provides people with the tools to build a plan in an effort to strengthen resiliency, sustainability and expedite recovery during emergencies and disasters,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said.
During the program, seniors are provided with a family disaster plan booklet, which asks for personal, family, work, medical, insurance, emergency & evacuation related information, according to a release from the county sheriff’s office.
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Once the booklet is completed, they are then provided with a free emergency supply kit, which includes basic necessities for use during an emergency, the release said.
The National Readiness Campaign adopted by FEMA includes four basic components which asks residents to be informed, get involved, have a plan and build an emergency kit, the release said.
“Many residents are well informed and involved, but they fall short in creating a plan and building the kit,” Mike Oppegaard, OEM Coordinator, said. “STORM gives them that plan and equips them with the basic necessities in the event they need to go to a shelter. All those tools will lessen the impact on emergency management services during a disaster or emergency.”
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