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April 2005                                                                            Volume 8 - Number 3

Preparedness Updates...

The Tallahassee Red Cross Disaster Services Library

By Jim Moran

The Tallahassee, FL “Capital Area Chapter” of the Red Cross has compiled an impressive array of disaster materials in an on-line library available at www.tallytown.com/redcross/educate.html. The on-line library includes over 400 publications that are grouped into five major categories: Disaster Education, Preparedness and Mitigation Articles (58 entries), Disaster Education, Preparedness and Mitigation Brochures and Guides (over 200 entries), Disaster Education, Preparedness and Mitigation Fact Sheets (38 entries), Disaster Education, Preparedness and Mitigation Checklists (9 entries), and Disaster Planning Publications (17 entries).

The materials cover a broad span of all-hazards subjects, including natural and man-made hazards, including some detailed information on possible terrorist threats. Natural hazards discussed are not limited to those traditionally associated with Florida and include topics such as earthquake and tsunami mitigation.

There is something for everybody in this library, from detailed technical and strategic guidance for emergency planners and managers, to practical mitigation and preparedness guidance on household and workplace hazards. There are also a host of educational materials geared toward children, and many of the files are published in both English and Spanish, with a few even published in Creole.

As stated, much of the material has a very practical bent which is geared toward home safety, families and children. There are several materials that that identify very common child hazards such as fireworks, household mold, mosquitoes, and school bus safety. Others even tackle best approaches to discuss potentially frightening disaster subjects with children, as well as effective teaching methods.

The site really offers one-stop shopping for anyone who is looking to mitigate risks in their daily life. Covering topics from “Nuclear Blast Radiation Threats” to practical “School Bus Safety,” the library is a must visit for both the both the casually interested and the very serious.