News Release
May 11, 2011
The Texas Department of State Health Services has released its Surviving Disaster: How Texans Prepare documentary series about Texas disasters and emergency preparation.
The series is now available to view online at TexasPrepares.org.
“The series puts a human face on
disasters and reinforces how to prepare,” said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS
commissioner. “We are putting the documentaries into the hands of people
across Texas so they can hold a screening locally, share them with
others and create or improve their disaster plans.”
This short-documentary series shows the
impact a disaster can have on a community. The series features Texans
telling stories of survival and sharing lessons they learned. Six
eight-minute stories, produced in English and Spanish, make up the
series. They are called:
- Surviving Hurricanes: Grab It and Go – Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula
- A Community Rebuilds: Recovering From Wildfires – Montague County
- Back to Business: Planning for Disasters – Beaumont
- Ready for Anything: Preparing for the Next Flood – Del Rio
- Winds of Destruction: A County’s Lessons – Maverick County
- Facing Disasters: A Plan for Work and Home – Rio Grande Valley
The videos will be used as a tool for
preparedness workers and community organizations to promote disaster
preparedness in their areas. The contents of the DVD “extras” folder and
documents at TexasPrepares.org can help viewers create their plans.
“Each year brings the threat of disasters
and emergencies to Texas – from hurricanes and floods to tornadoes and
wildfires,” said W. Nim Kidd, Chief, Texas Division of Emergency
Management. “Being prepared for emergencies can help save lives and
protect property. These videos are an excellent tool to help build
public awareness about the need for everyone to have emergency plans in
place.”
“The series helps people visualize the impact of disasters and compels them to make a plan,” Lakey said.
The series was produced as part of the
state’s Ready or Not campaign. Originally launched in 2007, Ready or Not
is an ongoing multilingual public education campaign of DSHS to
encourage Texans to prepare for emergencies. Through the campaign, the
state provides resources that can be used locally to help Texans
prepare, respond and recover if disaster strikes.
House Bill 1831 of the 81st Legislative
Session directed DSHS to establish a program to educate Texans on
disaster preparedness and appropriated funds for the effort, which
includes the documentary series.
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(News Media Contact: Carrie Williams, Press Officer, 512-458-7119 or 512-965-7198)
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