Ready Georgia

Launched January 2008, Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign supported by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) aimed at motivating Georgians to take action to prepare for a disaster. GEMA is the state agency responsible for emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and special events.

This campaign provides a local dimension to a broader national campaign, titled Ready America, and focuses on educating citizens so they are better prepared for disasters. The Georgia campaign is supported by the Georgia Department of Community Health – Division of Public Health, The Ad Council, The Home Depot and volunteer organizations and seeks to coordinate a cohesive statewide program and a call to action regarding emergency preparedness.

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are community-based organizations that assist in preparing for emergencies, particularly those concerning hazardous materials. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month.

These local committees:

• Receive emergency notifications of chemical releases from facilities and transporters.
• Receive Emergency Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms from facilities.
• Provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens.
• Create a comprehensive emergency response plan and review it at least annually.

The mission of the local LEPC is to provide a comprehensive and integrated emergency management system that coordinates community resources to protect lives, property and the environment through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from all natural and manmade hazards that may impact our county.