DETROIT OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAND-DELIVERS EMERGENCY REFERENCE GUIDE
Efforts are in Recognition of National Preparedness Month

(DETROIT, MI) For the City of Detroit�s Homeland Security Director Colonel Daryl Lundy, National Preparedness Month took on new meaning this year.

The former U.S. Army Colonel comes from a long line of military men. Two weeks ago, Lundy saw his son off for a tour of duty in Iraq. Last week, he went door-to-door in Russell Woods to hand-deliver Detroit�s first Detroit Homeland Security Emergency Reference Guide, also known as the Med-E-Book (Medical Emergency Booklet).

His message: �Emergency preparedness is just as critical at home as it is abroad.�

Community preparedness is part of Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick�s vision for the Next Detroit. And community response is key in the event of an emergency, said Lundy.

The Med-E-Book contains 19 tabs of emergency and medical references that guide families safely and calmly through extreme situations. It hangs conveniently on their refrigerator for easy access in the event of a medical/emergency situation. The Med-E-Book was developed by Auctus, Inc., a local consulting firm that partnered with the City of Detroit to distribute the guide. Residents have begun to find their copy on the doors of their homes, as 32,000 copies are being hand delivered.

�The way we respond to emergency situations at home can be the difference between life and death,� said Lundy, the city�s director of homeland security. �We believe the Med-E-Book offers good instruction to follow during critical situations. It is a great emergency resource for all families.�

Last Friday, Colonel Lundy, his staff and members of the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) personally knocked on doors in Russell Woods and delivered the Med-E-Book. Dr. James Boyer was impressed to be face-to-face with Detroit�s chief homeland security officer on Thursday.

�I thought it was great that the City thought enough of us to send him out, not just to my house, but to my community,� said Dr. Boyer, who has lived in Russell Woods since 1961.

The Med-E-Book, �is great to have readily available,� he said. �Most folks don�t know what numbers to call, and in an emergency, most people don�t even know where to start looking.�

The goal is to ensure that Detroit�s nearly 300,000 households have a copy. The books are immediately available at Detroit Neighborhood City Hall offices throughout the city.

Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick said residents must be capable and prepared to work with first responders to ensure the safety and well-being of friends and family when called upon.

�It is important that our citizens are prepared to handle any situation,� said Mayor Kilpatrick. �Family members are often forced to be a loved-one�s first responder while emergency personnel are being dispatched.�

In 2002, Detroit was the first city in the nation to develop a 10-point homeland security plan, which was ultimately used as a national model for other cities. Detroit was also the first city to appoint a homeland security director at the local level. Detroit�s first responders often lead regular international emergency exercises with their Canadian counterparts. In 2003, Detroit received national accolades for its response to the largest blackout in U.S. History.

Mayor Kilpatrick said the blackout exposed a need to engage residents in homeland security and preparedness efforts.

�Detroiters responded admirably, but there was a great level of anxiety and uncertainty,� he said. �The more residents know, the better coordinated our response efforts are.�