CITY'S PROJECT IMPACT CHARTS PLAN FOR EDUCATION, OUTREACH

Plans to present information about disaster preparedness took a step forward Monday when members of Cape Girardeau's Project Impact met at the Convention and Visitors Bureau to map out an educational and public outreach effort for the city.

Public information campaign themes for each month of next year were tentatively set by the Education and Public Outreach Committee of Project Impact. The themes range from earthquake awareness to public health issues to handling hazardous materials.

The committee is planning public educational campaigns to help educate the public about disaster preparedness and other safety topics.

The planning was part of the grant application process being undertaken by Project Impact. The grant application must be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency by the end of November.

Cape Girardeau, which was chosen by Gov. Mel Carnahan in April to become Missouri's first disaster-resistant community, could be eligible to receive a grant of up to $500,000 -- including the city's 25 percent match -- for work to reduce the risk of loss of lives and property damage from disasters.

In July, FEMA officially designated Cape Girardeau as the first Project Impact city in Missouri. A signing ceremony with FEMA director James Lee Witt has been tentatively scheduled for Feb. 3.

With the designation, Cape Girardeau became eligible for the grants, at least 75 percent of which must be used for hard mitigation. Hard mitigation would include work on existing structures and utility facilities or systems to make sure they would be usable in the event of a disaster.

Possible hard mitigation being considered by Project Impact are the purchase of an runway standby power generators for the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the protection of Cape Girardeau's water tanks from the effects of an earthquake.

The remaining 25 percent of the grant could be used for what is called soft mitigation, which would include education of the public about disasters and what to do in the event of a disaster.

The Education and Public Outreach Committee will ask the steering committee for up to $40,000 for its public education campaign.

Among the suggestions for education activities:

-- Target businesses, schools and other organizations for presentations on disaster planning, drills and mitigation.

-- Work with other Project Impact committees to help businesses set up disaster response plans.

-- Gather information on resources available locally, including identifying emergency shelters.

-- Put together a comprehensive documentary on the city's Project Impact preparations for distribution to other communities interested in becoming disaster resistant.

-- Sponsor monthly programs and educational events relating to different disaster-preparedness or safety topics.

The topics also include winter awareness, tornadoes and severe weather, flooding, heat-related issues, business preparedness, fire and preparing individual and family personal preparedness plans.

The committee will submit its funding request at Wednesday's steering committee meeting. The steering committee will meet at the Osage Center at 9 a.m.