Carroll County Times letter to the editor: Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

Carroll County Times letter to the editor: Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

September 7, 2008

Carroll County Times Editor:

Disaster can strike at any time. It can come in the form of a house fire in the middle of the night, a loved one who suffers a heart attack or a power outage that leaves a family in the cold. In just the past two months, Carroll County Red Cross volunteers have responded to seven fires, bringing aid to those who were put out of their homes. While we can't control what happens, we can control how we prepare for and respond to emergencies.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross of Central Maryland wants Carroll County residents to take steps to be Red Cross Ready. The best part is it's easy to do.

Make a disaster preparedness kit with a few basic supplies in case you have to evacuate your home for up to three days. Next, make a plan about where to meet your family in the event that phone and other communication lines are down. Also, be informed about the types of disasters that can strike where you live, including home fires, terrorism and severe weather. Finally, get trained in First Aid and CPR.

If you've been putting off getting prepared, now is the time to do something about it. We've even created a free online education module at the Get Prepared section of our Web site www.red cross-cmd.org, to help you out. Together, we can make Carroll County a safer place to live, work and play.

Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

The writer is the chairman of the Carroll County District of American Red Cross of Central Maryland.

20080907 Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor