San Bernardino County Becomes "Disaster-Resistant" on Monday
Release Date: September 15, 2000
Release Number: R9-00-13
» 2000 Region IX News Releases
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- San Bernardino County exists as a prime target for earthquakes, floods and wildfires. So on Monday, the county will join a growing list of disaster-resistant communities by signing on with FEMA's Project Impact, a program aimed at changing the way America deals with natural catastrophes.
As a member of Project Impact, San Bernardino County will benefit from the latest methods in disaster training, public outreach and damage mitigation available through FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"The incentive for San Bernardino County is clear," said county Supervisor Jerry Eaves. "This partnership complements our county's goal of making public safety and economic prosperity the top priority. Disaster-resistant communities are able to bounce back from calamity with far less loss of life and property."
Representing the county, Supervisor Eaves will participate with local, state and federal officials and business leaders in a Project Impact signing ceremony on Monday, Sept. 18, at 9:45 a.m. on the first floor of the County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino.
"We welcome San Bernardino County and applaud its leadership in taking action to help reduce the risk of damage," said Martha Whetstone, the San Francisco-based regional director of FEMA Region IX. "Communities, particularly those in Southern California, need to be well-prepared for the disasters we know will come."
Partners in Project Impact agree to work toward mitigating damage to their facilities, providing emergency training and special services for employees, and to render technical assistance, financial resources or in-kind services to other segments of their communities.
Project Impact, now in its 3rd year, operates on three simple principles: preventive actions must be decided at the local level; private sector participation is vital; and long-term efforts and investments in prevention measures are essential.
FEMA has offered expertise and technical assistance from the national and regional level and included other federal agencies and states in the equation. FEMA has used all the available mechanisms to get the latest technology and mitigation practices into the hands of the local communities. Now, FEMA has nearly 200 Project Impact communities, as well as over 1,100 businesses that have joined on as Project Impact partners.
The incentive is clear: a disaster resistant community is able to bounce back from a natural disaster with far less loss of property and consequently much less cost for repairs.
Moreover, the time lost from productive activity is minimized for both businesses and their employees.
FEMA estimates that for every dollar spent in damage prevention, two are saved in repairs.
Last Modified: Friday, 21-Nov-2003 08:52:36