JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
To celebrate National Preparedness Month, the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency managers educated Joint Base Andrews members in the Base Exchange here, Sept. 23.
“National Preparedness Month is an opportunity for emergency managers to get out and showcase what we do,” said Staff Sgt. Shaun Ouellette, 11th CES readiness and emergency manager.
The job of readiness and emergency managers is to make sure the base and its members are prepared to take action in any situation.
“We teach how to be prepared for scenarios like natural disasters, active shooters and hazardous materials. You never know what could happen, so you always want to be prepared,” Ouellette said.
A way to be prepared is to download the Air Force “Be Ready” app on a smart phone. The app is the mobile version of the Air Force Emergency Preparedness Guide and provides key phone numbers, websites and family emergency plans.
“What would you do in a natural disaster?” said Ouellette. This is a question he asks regularly to make sure people have a plan.
By asking members how they would react in a real world emergency, he was able to learn the amount of knowledge they had on the subject.
“Don’t wait. Communicate! What can you do today?” said Ouellette.
This is the 11th CES motto, which they use to get people thinking of what to do in any disaster.
In addition to setting up a booth, they provided many educational guides including magnets, brochures and children’s activity books to JBA members.
“Having a plan can save a lot of lives, so it’s good to have some type of plan and implement different procedures such as shelter and evacuation,” said Airman 1st Class Donnie Hamilton, 11th CES readiness and emergency manager.
The 11th CES readiness and emergency management flight was selected to be the spokesmen for the preparedness fair at the Pentagon for National Preparedness Month.
“It was a great opportunity for the 11th CES to build a partnership with the community and in the National Capitol Region,” Ouellette said.
In the spirit of National Preparedness Month, the readiness and emergency management flight is scheduled to have a 5K fun run and walk at the West Fitness Center at 7 a.m., Sept. 30.