News : Project Joseph: Faith-based group seeks to help with emergency preparation

Project Joseph is a member of the Benton County Disaster Recovery Coalition, 501(c)3, and receives oversight from the Coalition.

Eastern Iowahas seen its share of local disasters in the last few years. The Parkersburgtornado, the flood of 2008, ice storms, wind storms, and power outages, to name a few.

All of these disasters needed outside resources, like shelters, food, and emergency power sources, etc.

A future disaster of greater magnitude could affect most of the state. Usual relief organizations may not be able to respond timely, or at all, especially in rural areas.

“Project Joseph has about 15 members. We are just ordinary folks that have sensed a need to get our own households more ready. While we do that, we might as well take others along with us,” states Julie Hansen, committee member.

“With the mention of “disaster preparedness,” some might wrongly assume we are extremists or pushing an end-time theology,” Hansen noted. She went on to say, “We don’t operate from a bunker mentality. That would be fear-based and harmful to all. We recognize that although God did ordain government, that is not where we place our sole trust in distressing times. We also are not promoting a church, denomination, or any theology about why God allows disasters to happen.”

Project Joseph committee members agree that it is God’s heart to unite with local business and government to assist families to prepare by offering opportunities to learn and obtain preparedness items. When it comes to disasters, people need each other and all want to feel loved and cared for.

The initial goals of Project Joseph are to encourage households to have on hand

· 3 to 5 days of water, including 2 gallons/person/day

· 3 to 5 days of food for your entire household

· a 72 hour emergency bag

Having supplies, food, water and an emergency plan prior to a disaster can reduce fears that arise from the unknown. An emergency plan can also reduce your personal losses.

Local businesses are being approached to provide items to complete an emergency bag or “bug-out-bag.”

“Let’s Tackle Preparedness” is the state program for family preparedness that Project Joseph will help unfold next week. It is sponsored by Safeguard Iowa Partnership, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Emergency Management Association. Helping to support this initiative is Tyler Sash, Iowa native and NFL player. It can be viewed at www.beready.iowa.gov/letstacklepreparedness.html

The committee will be periodically posting informative articles and websites about preparedness.

Hansen notes, “We plan to offer a HAM radio class during winter, a Red Cross 16 hour first aid/survival course in the spring, and hopefully a long term food storage class. To help assess public interest, please contact the committee at projectjoseph00@gmail.com about the classes or with other questions.

Project Joseph will have a Facebook page and twitter account up by mid-September and will get that information out to the public.

Financial donations towards Project Joseph are tax deductible and will help supply Emergency Bags, items and other activities as deemed appropriate.

E-mail: projectjoseph00@gmail.com for questions. Make checks payable to BCDRC and put Project Joseph in the memo line.