The number of people that have seen the television commercial for the government preparedness program, Ready America, is surprising. A friend asked me what I thought about the commercial and that lead me to the Ready America web site at http://www.ready.gov/.

Most of the basics for a fast education on preparedness are laid out on the web page. The list of partners who are helping get the word out are: The American Red Cross, the Association of Directory Publishers, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the U.S. Postal Service, the Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association, Metro Networks, the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts and Minor League Baseball.

I was surprised not to see any of the national first responder organizations on the list. I am probably overlooking something.

I know that first responders have much more training compared to the average citizen. That is why it may be good for first responders not only to help publicize the Ready America effort but also to provide preparedness training in their individual communities.

And while we are on the subject of getting ready, we must also remember that communication is a key element. Communication is often the first thing that the general public looses when a disaster strikes. Information eases the chaos that often ensues. Www.Ready.com, which is not a government address, has a section on radio gear that lists hand cranked radios and solar charged radios. These can help the public monitor the broadcasts that allow the victims of a disaster make the right choices.

It might also make good sense for your organization to have one or two of these radio items on hand.