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TextSeptember Proclaimed "Fairfax Prepares Month"
Fairfax County Office of Public
Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010
Sept. 14, 2004
September Proclaimed "Fairfax Prepares Month"
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the America Prepared Campaign, the American Red Cross, the National Association of Broadcasters, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Education have joined a coalition of more than 80 national organizations and all 56 states and territories to engage Americans in emergency preparedness during National Preparedness Month in September.
“National Preparedness Month will give everyone an opportunity to work toward a better prepared America,” said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. “This broad coalition and vast number of activities and events will allow us to reach millions of individuals and inform them about ways they can prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.”
Virginia Governor Mark Warner has issued a proclamation announcing that September is “Virginia Preparedness Month,” and at its Sept. 13 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September as “Fairfax Prepares Month.”
“Emergency preparedness and being prepared for any type of any type of
crisis, from terrorism to severe weather, is so important for the
residents of Fairfax County,” said Gerald Connolly, chairman of the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “I hope this proclamation will draw
attention to the need for our residents to be prepared both at home and
work.”
Numerous activities will be held by and in Fairfax County as part of the
“Fairfax Prepares Month” celebration, including:
• This past Saturday, Sept. 11, a remembrance ceremony was held in the
9/11 Memorial Grove Garden located at the Fairfax County Government
Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
• Monday, Sept. 13: Fairfax Prepares Month proclamation by the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors during the morning session of its
meeting.
• Monday, Sept. 13: Open house and ribbon
cutting ceremony for the Alternate Emergency Operations Center, noon
- 2 p.m. in the Fairfax County Government Center.
• Friday, Sept. 17: “Connect with the County
Exec” – A cable program on the Fairfax County Training Network for county
employees highlighting the county’s new Alternate Emergency Operations
Center (AEOC) and overall emergency preparedness efforts.
• Wednesday, Sept. 22: The quarterly meeting of the Fairfax County
Citizen Corps Council will be held in the AEOC and feature both the
national and state directors of the Citizen Corps Council.
• Tuesday, Sept. 28: A Fairfax County-specific AEOC exercise. The AEOC
and emergency support functions will be activated to allow primary and
alternate EOC staff from over 25 county and support agencies to
participate.
In addition to these date specific events during the month of September,
the Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council will be distributing flyers on
emergency preparedness to homeowners associations, libraries and PTAs
throughout the county. Also, a panel of county officials discussed county
preparedness issues on the program “Making a Difference” on public access
cable Channel 10.
For more information on emergency preparedness or “Fairfax Prepares
Month,” contact the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY
703-324-2935, or visit the county Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
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