The Be Safe America campaign was established in 2011 as a five-year initiative by the Safe America Foundation to increase public grassroots readiness. The components of the program include March to 1 Million™’, Text First. Talk Second.™’ and the Safest Kid in America contest.
These programs are designed to achieve four principal goals:
- Inform the public how new technology affects disaster communications
- Teach them to use the new ‘tools’ (texting – and a ‘safety shorthand’ for emergencies)
- Practice the use of this technology (via drills)
- Involve youth (via school curriculum and other programming)
Be Safe America year I (2011) action plan:
- Involve 1 million people (or more) in drills (Sept/Oct)
- Hold 10-city ‘tour’ to mobilize Americans to ‘pledge to drill’
- Promote ‘texting shorthand’ (via Text First. Talk Second.™)
- Use this in practice drills (mass events, families, communities)
- Provide ‘new tool’ in speeding multi-text messaging (app)
- Teach youth… & recognize their leadership (Safest Kid in America contest)
As mentioned above, the Safe America Foundation will be briefing business, civic, governmental and non-profit leaders at 10 events around the country from August until November. For more information about the Be Safe America campaign or to find out if a briefing will be happening near you, contact Bill Soule via email or phone at (770) 973-7233.
