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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"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><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 style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">CEMA ALERT </SPAN></I></B><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">will be used exclusively to distribute emergency information that warns of conditions that threaten the lives and/or property of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Chatham</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> residents.</SPAN></I></B><I><SPAN lang=EN style="mso-ansi-language: EN"><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>January 5, 2009, 3:00 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>Therapy Dogs to the Rescue</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">January 5, 2009</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Saturday, January 9<SUP>th</SUP>, 2010, the Chatham Emergency Management Agency will be collaborating with Therapy Dogs International (TDI<SUP>®</SUP>) to host the Therapy Dog Certification Exam at the Spanish Oaks Retreat, located at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">8510 Whitefield Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is the first examination of its kind to be held in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Savannah</st1:place></st1:City> and will test dogs and their handlers’ sensitivity and attentiveness to people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The rigorous exam is expected to continue most of the day to test dogs and their handlers’ response to the following:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 39pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>·</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Therapy Dogs’ reactions to boarding and riding a school bus, boat and elevator.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 39pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>·</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Interaction with mounted police patrol and fully uniformed fire personnel.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 39pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>·</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Reaction to fire engine sirens.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 39pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>·</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Reaction to helicopter take off and landing.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>TDI<SUP>®</SUP> is a volunteer group organized to provide qualified handlers and their Therapy Dogs for visitations to institutions, facilities, and any other place where Therapy Dogs are needed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition, TDI<SUP>®</SUP> ensures that all Therapy Dogs are tested, certified, insured and registered so that they may bring joy and comfort to those in need during stressful and sometimes intense situations.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The use of canines to help mankind is known throughout the world. They have been used for guarding flocks, tracking, hunting, search and rescue, leading the blind, and in assisting the deaf and physically challenged.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bond between dog and man dates back to early history, but it wasn’t until recently that a correlation was acknowledged between this bond and the emotional health of humans. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Studies have shown that a person holding or petting an animal results in a lowering of blood pressure, the release of strain and tension, and can draw out a person from loneliness and depression.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Chatham Emergency Management Agency will partner with TDI<SUP>®</SUP> in the event that a major disaster affects <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Chatham</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Therapy Dogs will not only be brought in to assist disaster victims but also the numerous first responders that assist with the response and recovery from a disaster.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>To belong to TDI<SUP>®</SUP> all dogs must be tested and evaluated by a Certified TDI Evaluator. A dog must be a minimum of one year of age and have a sound temperament. Each dog must pass a temperament evaluation for suitability to become a Therapy Dog, which includes the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC). The test will also include the evaluation of the dog’s behavior around people that use service equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>For additional information on TDI<SUP>®</SUP>, please visit <B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A title=http://www.tdi-dog.org/ href="http://www.tdi-dog.org/">www.tdi-dog.org</A>. </SPAN></I></B><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>###</FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><o:p>
<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></o:p></FONT></SPAN></BODY></HTML>