Friday, January 21, 2005
"RESOLVE TO BE READY IN 2005"
Homeland Security And Christian Emergency Network Invite Americans To
Make A New Year’s Resolution –- For Themselves And Their Families!
By Michael Ireland
WASHINGTON, D.C (ANS) -- Christians
across America are being encouraged to be among some of the best
prepared citizens in the United States.
According to a press release from the Christian Emergency Network
(CEN), nearly half of all American adults make one or more New Year’s
resolutions every year, including quitting smoking, losing weight or
committing to an exercise program. Unfortunately, many Americans have
difficulty keeping their resolution due to lack of time or motivation.
The release says that this year, as a part of the national preparedness
campaign the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Christian
Emergency Network is encouraging citizens to make a New Year’s
resolution that is easy to keep -- creating their own family emergency
plan.
“It can benefit not only the person who makes the resolution, but also
his or her entire family including friends,” says the release, obtained
by ASSIST News Service (ANS).
Outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said: “The start of a
new year is a time when many Americans are inclined to think about ways
to make improvements for the future.”
He added: “Creating a family emergency plan is a great place to start.
Families can create a plan that will allow them to know how best to
communicate with one another in the event of an emergency.”
Americans are being encouraged to log-on to www.cenkits.com to find out
more.
“There, you can learn more about emergency preparedness and download a
free family emergency plan template to help you get started or find
kits already prepared for you. Make a Plan, Make a Kit, Be Informed AND
Help Others, you and your family will be glad you did,” the release
says.
Last month, Homeland Security and the Ad Council unveiled the new Ready
campaign public service advertisements (PSAs). This month Christian
Emergency Network launched the Christian version of these vital
announcements.
The PSAs, which were sent to every radio broadcaster across the U.S.,
are designed to encourage people to develop a family emergency plan in
case of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other emergency. The
television version will be launched later this year. Every broadcaster
is encouraged to air these PSA’s immediately with frequency and
rotation.
In addition, over 2,000 Christian broadcast network executives received
a copy of the National Association of Broadcasters and Homeland
Security “Are You Ready?”-- A Step-by-step Emergency Preparedness
Guidebook to Prepare Your Station and Local Community.
These guidebooks and the implementation checklist is critical for all
broadcasters to put into action. Broadcasters may contact their network
management to receive this information and look for teleconference
calls on these subjects from CEN in the near future.
Meanwhile those broadcasters who want to be among the best prepared
should log onto www.centoday.com
to partner with CEN and to receive PSA’s, free email updates,
programming, and timely news to best serve their audience before,
during and after any national crisis.
CEN LAUNCHES SERMON SERIES
“Before It Happens” is a new sermon series from CEN that comes along
with action steps for church preparation personally and for their
communities as an outreach.
“Before It Happens” is the first of a three part series assisting
pastors to lead their congregations in effective response before,
during and after any crisis.
“While It Happens” will be preached nationally if a disaster occurs and
“Since It Happened” will give spiritual and practical guidance to
recovery from a disaster and church assimilation of new attendees.
In addition to the sermon series, prayer hotlines in case of emergency
are being developed to insure all who request prayer will be served
whether at a disaster site or affected by the disaster off-site.
Ministries who are active in first response during disasters will be
surveyed in 2005 to determine what their capacities are in any crisis,
to insure they are supporting each other effectively, and to insure
critical resources are directed to the most urgent needs.
The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association is completing its contingency
plans to insure national satellite feeds are available in a crisis for
thousands to receive Christ as a result of a city event. The NeedHim
hotline will be used to allow participants to make decisions for all
eternity during these events.
CEN radio PSA’s are being launched this month across the nation.
Practical tips as well as effective prayer, care and share prompts are
supplied to over 2,000 broadcasters for immediate airing. National
Leaders will continue to voice these tips.
Broadcasters will also receive the NAB homeland security guidebook.
Topics covered in this guidebook will be covered via teleconference
calls during 2005 to insure broadcasters are prepared to respond to any
disaster.
Christian Emergency Network leads Christians to intelligently pray for,
sensitively care for, and strategically share the gospel with victims
involved in a national emergency.
Visit the CEN home page at: http://www.centoday.com
| ** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station. |
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Disaster Survival
Tips - by Doug Copp
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