BONO MACK, SHAKEOUT COMMITEE, DESERTARC URGE PREPAREDNESS FOR A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE

Host Town Hall Meeting for People with Disabilities

Indio, CA, Oct 15 — In an effort to ensure that individuals with disabilities are prepared in the case of a major earthquake, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45), together with her Riverside County ShakeOut Committee co-chair Peter Lent, Deputy Director of the Riverside County Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Services, and DesertArc, hosted a Town Hall Meeting in Indio in preparation for the Great California ShakeOut in November. Special Advisor to the Director in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Richard Devylder was the keynote speaker and discussed critical information about what to do in an emergency and how to be better prepared.

“Being prepared can make all the difference in an emergency,” said Bono Mack. “This Town Hall was a valuable opportunity for our community, especially people with disabilities and first responders, to address challenges and be better prepared when disaster strikes. Having a personal support network in place, knowing what you need and having it accessible are just some steps that people with disabilities can take to be more ready for an earthquake or other natural disaster. I applaud the hard work and efforts of the Riverside County ShakeOut Committee team and DesertArc in putting on this important event and continuing to raise awareness about the Great Southern California ShakeOut this November.

“Living in California, we face the very real threat of an earthquake every day. The best thing we can do - for ourselves and our families - is be ready.”

“The ShakeOut exercise provides a great opportunity for first responders and the disability to test their abilities and identify needs in a catastrophic disaster,” said Richard Devylder, Special Advisor to the Director in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “Yesterday’s Town Hall Meeting provided an opportunity for people with disabilities to learn steps they can take to be better prepared and ensure think about the type of networks needed to assist them in a disaster whether at home, work, school, or a social setting.”

This Town Hall Meeting was a part of the preparation for the Great Southern California Shakeout, which will take place on November 13, at 10am. On this day, millions of Southern Californians will join together to participate in the Great Southern California ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history. To learn more about the Great Southern California ShakeOut, visit the website at www.shakeout.org or you may visit Congresswoman Bono Mack’s website at www.bono.house.gov.

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