Ronica Shannon
Madison County residents are being asked to participate in an area-wide telephone survey that will help the local emergency response personnel prepare for the future.
The telephone surveys will begin being administered on Tuesday, Jan. 26 and will last for about a week, said Kelley McBride, public information officer for Madison County EMA/CSEPP (Emergency Management Agency/Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program).
“It’s also very important for everybody to understand that this is a legitimate survey and we need as much participation as we possibly can,” McBride said.
It should take only a few minutes to complete, and will ask questions about residents’ knowledge of the EMA/CSEPP program, she said.
“The more people respond to the survey, the better CSEPP personnel can understand how to meet the preparedness needs of the people of Madison County,” McBride said. “The survey will hopefully give a better measure of the awareness in the community.”
The last survey conducted by EMA/CSEPP was in 2005.
“With this data, we can compare the 2010 (results) to 2005 (results),” she said. “Using the information gained from the survey, emergency management officials will be able to better focus on preparedness issues most important to residents in each community surveyed.”
The survey not only offers the opportunity to measure the awareness and knowledge of local citizens about emergency preparedness, but specifically about issues regarding chemical stockpiles.
“The results will tell us how best to continue with our education and outreach efforts,” she said.
The phone survey will be conducted in Madison County and in nine other surrounding CSEPP counties, she said.
Call the Madison County EMA/CSEPP office at 624-4787 for more information about the survey or emergency preparedness.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
