For immediate release
September 8, 2011
Polk County Emergency Management Announces Participation in September’s National Preparedness Month (NPM)
This September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.
This September, our nation will mark the ten year anniversary of 9/11, Polk County Emergency Management has committed to participate in National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September, an event founded after 9/11 to increase preparedness in the U.S. The event, now in its eighth year, is a nationwide, month-long effort encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.
Polk County Emergency Management is participating this year by supporting the Safeguard Iowa Partnership Prepare Fair. The Prepare Fair will be held October 8th from 10am-2pm at Capital Square, 400 Locust in Des Moines. Free and open to the public, the Prepare Fair will assist people in learning what they need to do to become more resilient to disasters and other emergencies. Additionally, Polk County Emergency Management is conducting preparedness talks at several businesses across the county and utilizing the power of social media such as Twitter and Facebook to spread the preparedness message.
One of NPM’s key messages is: be prepared to be self-reliant for three days, possibly without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue. Preparing can start with three important steps:
1. Get an emergency supply kit
2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency
3. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness information is available at http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/EmergencyManagement/emergency-preparedness .
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Windsor Heights Police Department Phone: (515) 277-4453
1133 66th Street Fax: (515) 271-8160
Windsor Heights, Iowa 50324 www.windsorheights.org
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Self-Defense Course Offered for Women
Windsor Heights, IA- The Windsor Heights Police Department is currently gathering contact information for area residents who may be interested in participating in a women’s education and self defense course called Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.). Dates of the course have tentatively been set for four consecutive Thursday evenings in October (6, 13, 20, 27th from 6:00 - 9:30 pm) at the Windsor Heights Community and Event Center. Class size will be limited to twenty students and attendance at all classes is recommended to complete the program successfully. There will be a one-time registration fee of $25 due prior to the first class along with pre-event paperwork and waivers. Returning students are welcome at no charge.
The RAD program for women’s basic self defense is the largest nationally recognized women’s self defense organization in the world (www.rad-systems.com). Classes encompass twelve hours of education and awareness topics mixed in with hands-on, active self defense techniques and strategies. The final class in the series is a culmination of the material presented where three separate, active simulation scenarios are given to students to apply what they have learned in the classroom.
Participation in this course does encourage a moderate level of activity; however, women of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The philosophy of RAD instructors is that this program should be easy to learn, easy to retain, and relatively easy to employ during real confrontational situations. Dennis McDaniel of the Windsor Heights Police Department, and long-time certified RAD instructor states, “The objective of the basic RAD program is to develop and enhance the options of self defense so that they may become viable options for a woman who is attacked. We work with our students to educate them on general awareness issues and also strive to create confidence in the application of some basic self defense techniques.”
Interested women, high school age and above, may contact Chief McDaniel at the Windsor Heights Police Department during normal business hours at (515) 277-4453 or e-mail him at dmcdaniel@windsorheights.org with questions. Registration for the course will begin Tuesday, September 6th at City Hall, 1133 66th Street.
