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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">CEMA Signal is a non-emergency email listserv to notify Chatham County residents of administrative issues such as meetings, road closures, training.</SPAN></I></B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN">To un-subscribe to CEMA Signal, please visit:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></I></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><A href="http://chathamemergency.org/mailman/options/cema_signal_chathamemergency.org"><I><SPAN style="COLOR: purple; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">http://chathamemergency.org/mailman/options/cema_signal_chathamemergency.org</SPAN></I></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NEWS RELEASE</SPAN></U></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Chatham Emergency Management Agency<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>December 18, 2009, 2:00 PM</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">K. Courtney Cunningham<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">912.201.4508<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(O)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">912.657.8671<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(C)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:kccunnin@chathamcounty.org"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">kccunnin@chathamcounty.org</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE</FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Savannah</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, <st1:State w:st="on">GA</st1:State></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> – <SPAN style="COLOR: black">December 18, 2009</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">The Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) has assembled a list of economical gift ideas for the holidays to help keep your family and friends prepared. While emergencies can happen at any moment, these gifts can serve as a great starting point to ensure that your friends and family are prepared throughout 2010.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">This year, consider at least one of these ideas.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You just may save the life of a friend or family member with a great gift! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Possible gift items that may assist in disasters includes:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits; food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours; i.e., extra clothing, blankets, and flashlights). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">NOAA weather radios with extra batteries. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Smoke detectors. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Fire extinguishers (for kitchen, garage, car, etc.) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Battery</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"> powered lamps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></UL>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">These gifts can serve as a great starting point to discuss with your friends and family about their emergency communications plans, disaster supply kits, and how they stay informed about emergencies in their area.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">“As you meet with your loved ones this holiday season, make sure that you take a moment to discuss an emergency plan of action should any of you be affected by a disaster.” said CEMA Director Clayton Scott. “Remember that disasters affect us all; the more prepared you are as an individual, the less you will rely on overwhelmed emergency response systems that may not be able to assist you immediately following the aftermath of an emergency.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">The most important thing any individual can do is take a few minutes to discuss with their family, friends and loved ones what they will do in the case of an emergency or disaster. This includes developing a simple family communications plan and identifying how you would get in touch with loved ones and where you might meet if you are separated when an emergency or disaster takes place.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">For more information and preparedness tips, please visit <A href="http://www.chathamemergency.org/"><FONT color=#800080>www.ChathamEmergency.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman">K. Courtney Cunningham</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Emergency Management Specialist</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">External Affairs / Volunteer Coordination</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Chatham Emergency Management Agency</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">124 Bull Street, Suite 140</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Savannah, GA 31401</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:kccunnin@chathamcounty.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman">kccunnin@chathamcounty.org</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">912.201.4508</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">912.657.8671</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>