As I read and watched the reports coming out of Greensburg on the high school graduation, I thought about the great gift parents, teachers and the community gave to that graduating class. As a community they took time out of the clean-up and grieving to honor the accomplishments of their graduates. It was an incredible tribute.
The graduates also gave an enormous gift to the community, parents and teachers. A graduation ceremony represents hope, accomplishment and tenacity. The graduates are the future of the community. They are shining examples of the fact that with hard work and commitment goals can and will be accomplished. And if there is nothing else that every single Greensburg resident has in common, they all know that clean up and recovery will take hard work, commitment and tenacity.
This is the time for all of us to count our blessings, reflect, and perhaps plan. Now is the time to prepare ourselves and our families should we be hit with another natural disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) both have informative websites that will help you be prepared should you find yourself in the aftermath of a disaster. They recommend preparing and practicing escape routes, developing family communication strategies, and keeping insurance information, vital records, and emergency cash in an easily located and central location.
They also advise everyone to develop and maintain a contact list of family, friends and others who will need to be notified in case of an emergency. Also consider if there are senior citizens or people with disabilities in your community who may need assistance. Lastly, don't forget to include family pets into the evacuation plans! For complete information please visit either website: FEMA - www.fema.gov/areyouready or FCIC - www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfdisaster02/focus.htm.
We can all learn something from Kansans across the state who are recovering from the deep freeze this winter and tornados and flooding this spring. Time and time again when you speak with them they say, "We lost everything, but still have each other, " or "All the possessions can be replaced," and "It could have been worse. We could have lost loved ones." If there is a silver lining to the tragedies our state has experienced it is that we are reminded of what is truly important in life - family, friends and community. The true Kansas spirit is shining through these times and, as always, I am proud to say I'm a Kansan.
It is my honor to serve as your Kansas State Treasurer. Please contact me if I can help you
