08/25/2005 - HOUSTON
Hurricanes. Flooding. Explosions. Terrorism. Harris County emergency management experts say these natural and manmade disasters are inevitable. Yet, the majority of greater Houston-area residents do not know how to protect themselves or their families when disaster strikes.
Today, The Allstate Foundation awarded the Harris County Citizen Corps a $100,000 grant to further its mission of training citizens how to prepare for and respond to an emergency disaster, whether natural or manmade. The grant also involves an expanded partnership with Houston TranStar and the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management to launch a multi-media disaster preparedness public awareness campaign in September, which is National Disaster Preparedness Month.
The Allstate Foundation initiated the partnership, which was announced today by The Allstate Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas J. Wilson at a press conference held at Houston TranStar. The preparedness program is intended to encourage personal responsibility and volunteer service in Harris County, and will serve as a national best practice in promoting "all-hazards disaster preparedness" through training and public awareness.
"Natural and manmade catastrophes to our homeland are a problem that can't be ignored," said Wilson, who addressed the topic with area business leaders at The Houston Executives Forum earlier today. "Houston is the energy capital of America. If a major catastrophe happens here, the whole country may be affected. We are launching this partnership today because Allstate believes the public and private sectors must partner together much more effectively in order to prepare for and recover from catastrophic disasters."
The Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and The Allstate Foundation, is an educational program that trains neighborhood volunteers to effectively prepare for and react to disasters. Currently, there are 72 CERT teams in Harris County with 1,044 trained members, and the plan is to increase the volunteer network to 2,000 Houstonians by September 2006. In addition, Allstate's funding will help underwrite a CERT program for middle school children and expand the existing teen program to reach 20 area high schools.
"We have been trying to raise awareness of the importance and the value of emergency preparedness for a number of years," said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. "With the additional funding from The Allstate Foundation, not only will we double our network of adult volunteers, but we will also reach pre-teens and teenagers so they too understand the value of being prepared. We're extremely pleased to be able to offer the CERT program to an expanded group of people in our community."
The public awareness campaign, involving television, radio and billboard advertisements, is designed to spur residents into a reality check about the potential risks they are exposed to, showing images of disaster aftermaths and encouraging the community to "think" and "act" before a disaster strikes by visiting http://www.survivedisaster.org or calling 211 for preparedness information.
For more information about emergency preparedness or to schedule CERT training, please visit http://www.survivedisaster.org or call 211.
About the Harris County Citizens Corps
The Harris County Citizen Corps is committed to creating opportunities for people to volunteer to help our community prepare for and respond to emergencies. The primary goal is to have all citizens participate in making neighborhoods safer by providing them the tools and training needed for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.
About Houston TranStar
Recognized nationally and internationally as a model for government agencies seeking to combine resources across modal and political jurisdictional boundaries, Houston TranStar is a unique multi-agency partnership comprised of the City of Houston, Harris County, METRO and the State of Texas that is responsible for coordinating the planning, design, maintenance and operations of transportation and emergency functions in the greater Houston region. For more information on Houston TranStar, please visit our award-winning website located at http://www.houstontranstar.org.
About City of Houston Office of Emergency Management
The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management conducts programs and activities designed to provide customers, internal and external, with the ability to prepare for, cope with, and recover from the effects of disasters. This is achieved through information and resource exchange, working with the public and private sectors, and all levels of government through the utilization of modern technology.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by The Allstate Corporation. Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote "safe and vital communities"; "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity"; and "economic empowerment". The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 13,600 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Gloria Roemer, Harris County Citizens Corps, (713) 755-4000
Artee T. Jones, Houston TranStar, (713) 881-3244
Laura Margolis, Allstate Foundation, (847) 402-5600
Hurricanes. Flooding. Explosions. Terrorism. Harris County emergency management experts say these natural and manmade disasters are inevitable. Yet, the majority of greater Houston-area residents do not know how to protect themselves or their families when disaster strikes.
Today, The Allstate Foundation awarded the Harris County Citizen Corps a $100,000 grant to further its mission of training citizens how to prepare for and respond to an emergency disaster, whether natural or manmade. The grant also involves an expanded partnership with Houston TranStar and the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management to launch a multi-media disaster preparedness public awareness campaign in September, which is National Disaster Preparedness Month.
The Allstate Foundation initiated the partnership, which was announced today by The Allstate Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas J. Wilson at a press conference held at Houston TranStar. The preparedness program is intended to encourage personal responsibility and volunteer service in Harris County, and will serve as a national best practice in promoting "all-hazards disaster preparedness" through training and public awareness.
"Natural and manmade catastrophes to our homeland are a problem that can't be ignored," said Wilson, who addressed the topic with area business leaders at The Houston Executives Forum earlier today. "Houston is the energy capital of America. If a major catastrophe happens here, the whole country may be affected. We are launching this partnership today because Allstate believes the public and private sectors must partner together much more effectively in order to prepare for and recover from catastrophic disasters."
The Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and The Allstate Foundation, is an educational program that trains neighborhood volunteers to effectively prepare for and react to disasters. Currently, there are 72 CERT teams in Harris County with 1,044 trained members, and the plan is to increase the volunteer network to 2,000 Houstonians by September 2006. In addition, Allstate's funding will help underwrite a CERT program for middle school children and expand the existing teen program to reach 20 area high schools.
"We have been trying to raise awareness of the importance and the value of emergency preparedness for a number of years," said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. "With the additional funding from The Allstate Foundation, not only will we double our network of adult volunteers, but we will also reach pre-teens and teenagers so they too understand the value of being prepared. We're extremely pleased to be able to offer the CERT program to an expanded group of people in our community."
The public awareness campaign, involving television, radio and billboard advertisements, is designed to spur residents into a reality check about the potential risks they are exposed to, showing images of disaster aftermaths and encouraging the community to "think" and "act" before a disaster strikes by visiting http://www.survivedisaster.org or calling 211 for preparedness information.
For more information about emergency preparedness or to schedule CERT training, please visit http://www.survivedisaster.org or call 211.
About the Harris County Citizens Corps
The Harris County Citizen Corps is committed to creating opportunities for people to volunteer to help our community prepare for and respond to emergencies. The primary goal is to have all citizens participate in making neighborhoods safer by providing them the tools and training needed for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.
About Houston TranStar
Recognized nationally and internationally as a model for government agencies seeking to combine resources across modal and political jurisdictional boundaries, Houston TranStar is a unique multi-agency partnership comprised of the City of Houston, Harris County, METRO and the State of Texas that is responsible for coordinating the planning, design, maintenance and operations of transportation and emergency functions in the greater Houston region. For more information on Houston TranStar, please visit our award-winning website located at http://www.houstontranstar.org.
About City of Houston Office of Emergency Management
The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management conducts programs and activities designed to provide customers, internal and external, with the ability to prepare for, cope with, and recover from the effects of disasters. This is achieved through information and resource exchange, working with the public and private sectors, and all levels of government through the utilization of modern technology.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by The Allstate Corporation. Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote "safe and vital communities"; "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity"; and "economic empowerment". The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 13,600 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Gloria Roemer, Harris County Citizens Corps, (713) 755-4000
Artee T. Jones, Houston TranStar, (713) 881-3244
Laura Margolis, Allstate Foundation, (847) 402-5600
