Get documents about "Emergency Preparedness Campaign Launches in Orange County
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SOAPBOX
Letters
(Cont. from page 10) PATRICIA BATES: Guest View
grateful to Norb Garrett and Jonathan Volzke for
providing great coverage in The Capistrano Dispatch
before and after the event.
Emergency Preparedness Campaign
In the last edition of the Dispatch there was a half-
page advertisement thanking our sponsors. Although
I had ample opportunity to review the ad before it
Launches in Orange County
W
went to press, I missed two of our wonderful sponsors. hen an earthquake strikes official launch of ReadyOC, the largest emergency
They are the San Juan Hills Golf Club and the Swal- Southern California, when preparedness initiative in Orange County.
lows Inn. They both made monetary contributions to a wildfire starts in your The goal of ReadyOC is to educate and empower
the event and San Juan Hills Golf Club also provided neighborhood, when your home fills residents, businesses and schools to be prepared for
a gift basket which included rounds of golf. These are with mud after a landslide, will you natural and manmade disasters such as earthquakes,
people who are supporting the efforts of the San Juan and your family be prepared to face wildfires, flooding, terrorism and more. ReadyOC is
Capistrano Rotary and its community projects and I that disaster? Get ReadyOC! a public service campaign funded by the U.S. Depart-
PATRICIA According to national averages, ment of Homeland Security Urban Area Security
hope you will support them.
BATES nearly 70 percent of citizens are not Initiative (UASI) and is administered jointly by the
Homefront: tHanks for Grub fest support prepared for a major disaster and Santa Ana and Anaheim police departments in col-
—Art Hasselbrink, Adam & Mamie Maywhort have no emergency kit or family action plan in place. laboration with county and city emergency prepared-
American Anthropologist, Margaret Mead wrote Despite the fact that Orange County is an especially ness officials.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and com- disaster-prone area of the country, the unfortunate The new ReadyOC.org website is an online portal
mitted citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the truth is that the majority of our residents are not that provides access to a comprehensive array of
only thing that ever does.” There is no doubt that Great prepared. emergency preparedness tools and resources from
Western Grub Fest sponsors and volunteers belong to Just last month, my district experienced a 25-acre local and national organizations. The website teaches
this “small group of thoughtful and committed citizens.” wildfire near Ortega Highway east of Capistrano in Orange County citizens how to create an emergency
Since the event, we have received many kind words the Cleveland National Forest. Fortunately, through kit, make a plan and be informed. It also offers live
on a “job well done.” But the credit really goes to our the swift and diligent efforts of our firefighters, the breaking news and allows residents to connect
sponsors and volunteers. They gave selflessly of their fire was contained quickly and did not damage any through social media channels and download videos
time, treasure, and talent to help put the pieces to- structures. Yet, as we remember last year’s devastat- and resources. The information on the website is
gether, and to keep everything running. Their love and ing Freeway Complex Fire and look ahead to fire specifically geared toward residents, businesses and
support, coupled with their “can do” attitude filled our season this fall, I am reminded again of the dire need even kids.
hearts with warmth and gladness. Their excitement and for our citizens to be prepared. Remember: what we do now will determine what our
upbeat energy fueled our bodies, and propelled us to This is why I have embarked on a month long lives will be like after a major disaster. We can’t predict
move forward; especially in those wee morning hours initiative to increase awareness of the need to be when a major emergency will strike, but we can be
when every creature was stirring, even the mouse. prepared. At the September 15 Board of Supervisors prepared for one—and there is no excuse not to be. It
They are the embodiment of the American spirit, meeting, we passed a resolution declaring Septem- is the responsibility of each and every one of us.
and we wish to publicly thank them for their help with ber, 2009 as Disaster Preparedness Month for the Pat Bates, who represents San Juan Capistrano and
the event. County of Orange. Additionally, I participated in other South County cities, is Chair of Orange County
• Event sponsors: Community Management Inc, a press conference that same day announcing the Board of Supervisors.
Sara’s Hope, Capistrano Toyota, Farmers & Merchants
Bank, Rotary eClub of Southwest USA, and the many
military team and “Give ‘em Five” sponsors. Some trav- Perez. He puts the “Energizer Bunny” to shame.
eled from as far as Oregon and Arizona to attend the • And, last, but not least, the amazing 100-plus
event. volunteers that came out to help with anything and
• Farmers & Merchants bank tellers volunteered as everything.
cashiers. Yes, it was indeed an extraordinary day, made pos-
• Rotarians from Arizona hosted military families at sible by extraordinary people. We are deeply humbled
the VIP tent. and honored by their show of support.
• Off-duty LAPD officers volunteered as security And, to all who attended, we gratefully say thank you,
personnel. and we’ll see you at the HTC Corral next year. In the
• ASAP personnel volunteered with traffic control. meantime, you may enjoy the pictures at www.gwgf.org
• Girl Scouts Troop #1008, the Shindler family, the
Brauchler family and the Rathmanns staffed the vari- Damon: tHanks for mccartHy
ous food and information booths. —Ivy Sims Damon, San Juan Capistrano
• Navy SEAL JR Schooley, and his friends donated Kim McCarthy has been beaten up pretty badly the
the team’s sponsorship dollars, plus all proceeds last couple of weeks and I want her to know she also has
from the sale of their tri-tip sandwiches to Homefront many supporters out there that agree with what she has
America. said. However, we do know that it is very difficult to at-
• Bail Collector Denise Miner, worked the crowd tack the church and get away with it. in English. I admit I do not know in depth as to what is
and collected over $ 400. No doubt the church has a big hand in the illegal im- going on there so do not attack me please on this issue.
• Dunkees Lon Uso, Larry Kramer, Erin Kutnick migration problems of San Juan but nobody wants to take I am just passing on what I was told by moms who have
and Gary McCarver collectively brought in over $600 them on. I live in the Mission flats area and during the had kids there.
from the dunk tank. week as I drive to work I view the line of people waiting My main reason for this letter is to show my support
• Spurs & Satin and Two Gun Spinners went beyond for the hand outs from the church at least three times for Kim and we appreciate her for being brave enough to
the call of duty to make sure the guests received their weekly. Mostly Hispanic women with strollers, a couple speak out!
“bang” for their bucks. of small children and more than not pregnant. I think we Most people who know me know that I have been
• Assisteens of Laguna Beach worked tirelessly to need to be educating on birth control not just handing here since 1948 and love San Juan but I am getting very
keep the children entertained—ALL day long. out free food and clothes. I was told that is part of what tired of what is happening to our community regarding
• Marie Callenders donated blueberry pies for CHEC does, but if so, they are not doing a very good job. illegal immigration and our leaders just choosing to not
the pie eating contest. That was definitely a “Kodak Another thing I found out this past week was that the address the issues.
Moment.” San Juan Elementary School teaches in Spanish and only
To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the
• Fred Love from Ortega Tack and Feed added to 20 minutes of English. That is our tax payers’ money go-
paper, e-mail us at letters@thecapistranodispatch.com or
the “western” flair with his hay bales. ing into that school. I was told this by a few mothers who send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA
• SJC Rotary, as well as Rotarian Paul Murai and his had their children in school there because they could not 92624. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit
wife, Yvonne, donated the hot dogs and buns. afford the private route. They have since been able to reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for
• San Juan Capistrano’s most requested emcee, Ray move their children to another local school that teaches the claims made or the information written by the writers.
Page 14 • The Capistrano Dispatch • October 23–November 12, 2009 www.thecapistranodispatch.com
