Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Ready Georgia?

Launched January 2008, Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign supported by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) aimed at motivating Georgians to take action to prepare for a disaster. GEMA is a state agency that is responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery in order to save lives, protect property and reduce the effects of disaster.

This campaign provides a local dimension to Ready, a broader national campaign that focuses on educating citizens so they are better prepared for disasters.

The Georgia campaign, supported by the Ad Council, Georgia Department of Human Resources – Division of Public Health and The Home Depot, seeks to coordinate a cohesive statewide program and a call to action regarding emergency preparedness. The campaign uses a new interactive Web site, online community toolkit, television and radio advertising and public awareness media messaging to reach its audiences.

2. What are the key messages of Ready Georgia?

Ready Georgia has three main messages to convey to Georgia residents:

• Prepare – Create a Ready kit by purchasing items outlined in the Ready checklist. Items are inexpensive and readily available at local home stores.
• Plan – Create a disaster preparedness plan that includes specific information about how you expect to reconnect with loved ones, evacuate or reach safety. Periodically conduct fire drills and other activities so that a plan will be in place for various types of emergencies.
• Stay Informed – Be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and appropriate responses.

3. Who tends to be the least prepared for emergencies in the state of Georgia?

According to an October 2007 statewide survey conducted on behalf of GEMA, those Georgians who are the least prepared tend to be

• Younger than 35
• Unmarried
• Black or Hispanic
• Less educated
• With a household income lower than $58,000

4. To what type of emergencies is Georgia susceptible?

Georgia is susceptible to all types of man-made and natural disasters. History has proven that Georgia is likely to experience tropical storms, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, winter ice storms, wildfires, chemical spills and drought. Georgia is also not immune to terrorist attacks. And, while Georgia doesn’t have a history of pandemic outbreaks, both can occur with little or no warning.

5. Who should I contact before an emergency?

Before a disaster strikes, you should contact your local emergency management agency. Find out who your local emergency manager is by visiting the Ready Georgia Web site at www.ready.ga.gov. Make that contact information part of your emergency preparedness plan. If you need help during an emergency, call 9-1-1.

6. What can the average person do to be productive in the call for emergency preparedness?

Ready Georgia’s online toolkit contains information that any organization can use to host local events. It includes ideas and materials such as press releases, fliers and newsletter articles you might need in planning your own Ready Georgia event. This toolkit is designed to help you bring emergency readiness to center stage in your community. Please see the online community toolkit for a list of things people can do to help make a difference.

7. Will there be an education component of the campaign geared specifically toward Georgia’s children?

Children are often the best motivators for change. They are also fast learners. Ready Kids was launched by the national Ready campaign in 2006 as a tool to help parents and teachers educate children ages 8 - 12 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared. The program includes a family-friendly Web site, www.ready.gov/kids, and in-school materials developed by Scholastic Inc. The campaign mascot, Rex, is also available for community appearances and more.

8. Do Ready Georgia resources exist for the Spanish-speaking citizens of Georgia?

The national Ready campaign launched Listo in December 2003 as a Spanish version of Ready America. Listo aims to educate and empower Hispanic Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Spanish-speaking citizens of Georgia can get all of the necessary preparedness information by visiting www.listo.gov.

9. What should I do to plan for a disaster if I have a disability or need to help someone older or with a disability?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 600,000 families in Georgia have a family member with a disability and almost 800,000 Georgians are over age 65. In case of an emergency, these people might require special assistance. If you or someone you know needs special assistance in the event of an evacuation, contact your local emergency management agency as part of your planning. For more information, see Ready Georgia’s fact sheets for these particular groups in our online toolkit.

10. Where can I get more information about Ready Georgia and emergency preparedness?

For more information, visit Ready Georgia’s Web site at www.ready.ga.gov. You can also get more information at the national Ready site, www.ready.gov.