| After witnessing the federal, state and local | | | | "Get involved in that campaign," Dr. Taylor says. |
| response to a major disaster like Hurricane | | | | "Even if the candidate loses, volunteers are taken |
| Katrina, it's more important than ever to make | | | | seriously by elected officials. A person who works |
| your voice heard and your community is prepared | | | | on a campaign is seen as representing more than |
| for unexpected emergencies. | | | | just himself or herself." |
| Dr. Steven Taylor, an associate professor of | | | | 3. Don't Be Shy About Stating Your Emergency |
| government at American University in | | | | Preparedness Concerns. |
| Washington, DC, offers the following advice on | | | | "Concerned citizens should show up at officials' |
| community disaster preparedness. | | | | offices, get to know them and their aides, write |
| 1. Vote If You Want Your Emergency | | | | letters to them and hand-deliver them," Dr. Taylor |
| Preparedness Needs to Be Taken Seriously. | | | | recommends. "I tell citizens to express their |
| Use the ballot box to convey your concerns. | | | | opinions about the issues at hand. Always express |
| "Many elected officials look up residents' voting | | | | them in writing; then, they're on file. But try to |
| records before they decide whether or not to | | | | hand-deliver them so elected officials and their |
| respond to a resident," Dr. Taylor says. "People | | | | staff members get to know you." |
| who vote in both primaries and general elections | | | | 4. Attend Community Forums on Emergency |
| on the local, state and national levels are taken | | | | Response. |
| more seriously. | | | | Community meetings allow you to express your |
| "Vote in every election!" he urges. "If you feel | | | | concerns about emergency preparedness and |
| there are no candidates deserving of your vote, | | | | disaster response to elected officials. |
| then you should simply appear at the polls, go | | | | "When a citizen at a forum makes a statement |
| inside the booth and then leave. This way, you | | | | and receives supportive comments from others in |
| are recorded as having voted." | | | | attendance, elected officials take pause and view |
| 2. Support Candidates Who Are Dedicated to | | | | this as a statement coming from a group of |
| Disaster Preparedness. | | | | people--not just one individual," Dr. Taylor says. |
| As we learned from Hurricane Katrina, elected | | | | "Community meetings are also a way for citizens |
| officials at the local, state and federal levels play a | | | | to meet elected officials and high-level municipal |
| major role in how disaster response is managed. | | | | and county appointees." |
| If you're concerned about your community's | | | | Remember that 2006 is an election year. Take Dr. |
| emergency preparedness and response | | | | Taylor's advice so your voice can be heard on |
| capabilities, put your support behind a candidate | | | | the vital issues of disaster preparedness and |
| who echoes your views. | | | | emergency response. |