FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2006

San Diego --- In a major effort to encourage San Diego             County residents to prepare for disasters, the County of San Diego             today began mailing copies of its new Family Disaster Plan and             Personal Survival Guide to all county residents.

On May 9, 2006 the Board of Supervisors voted to mail the plan to             every resident. The plan will include a postcard for residents to             request a copy of the plan in Spanish, Tagalog or Vietnamese.              Also included with the plan are an evacuation checklist refrigerator             magnet and four emergency contact information wallet cards.

The plan is an easy-to-use document that provides helpful tips             for families and individuals before, during and after a disaster. It             advises those completing the document to select alternate evacuation             routes from their home and neighborhood, select a location where             family members can reunite after a disaster, select an out-of-town             contact for everyone to check in with, and a list of items to be             included in their family disaster kits.

“Whether it’s the threat of a wildfire, pandemic flu or an             earthquake, everyone must be prepared for a disaster – natural or             manmade,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts. “With the distribution of             this disaster plan, the County of San Diego is encouraging you to             prepare a checklist of supplies you will need for at least three             days after a disaster.”

A total of 1.4 million disaster plans are being mailed out             countywide. It will take about two weeks for all the plans to reach             mailboxes. Anyone who does not receive a plan by August 14 can             contact the County OES at 858-565-3490. Persons wishing additional             copies of the plan can also download them from the OES Web site at             http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes.