Use Text Messages to “Talk” in Emergencies, Don’t Block 911

National preparedness campaign unveiled to promote use of text messaging to communicate during an emergency

Atlanta, Aug. 31, 2011 – The Safe America Foundation briefed business, civic, governmental and non-profit leaders in metro-Washington, DC today on its Be Safe America national preparedness campaign. Launched in mid-August, the campaign is a five-year effort by the Foundation to encourage the use of text messaging and other tools to “talk” during a crisis. 

Talking Preparedness to a Packed House in Chicago

Today's DC earthquake validates the importance of Safe America's current Text First, Talk Second campaign... which gained momentum this morning with a high-level briefing in Chicago.

At today's three-hour discussion, representatives from Illinois and Cook County Homeland Security units - along with Chicago Police, the Mayor's office and City Aldermen - joined civic and business leaders in planning to 'participate' in our third annual drill season this September/October (by staging texting drills). This comes on the heels of briefings in the past 10 days in 5 states: Missouri, Iowa, Alabama, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Collectively, over 600 civic, business and community leaders have agreed to join Safe America's March to 1 Million and take this campaign to all 50 states.

Will DC Earthquake rattle Americans out of Preparedness Complacency?

DC Earthquake Underscores Importance of the Safe America Foundation’s national preparedness campaign Be Safe America

Atlanta, Aug. 31, 2011 –Since 2001, the Safe America Foundation, a metro-Atlanta based safety and preparedness non-profit, has collaborated with business, civic, governmental and non-profit leaders to encourage Americans to plan and practice preparedness drills at home, work and school. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the Washington, DC and the mid-Atlantic states boldly underscores the relevance of the Foundation’s current preparedness initiative, the Be Safe America campaign.