Media Advisory

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October 2, 2006

What

Contra Costa schoolchildren will practice what to do during disasters as part of the 2006 Countywide All School Drill on Wednesday. The annual event gives children and their caregivers an opportunity to practice responding to the Community Warning System sirens, which sound an alert when there has been a dangerous chemical release or other disaster that requires a shelter-in-place

When

11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006

Where

At school and day care centers throughout Contra Costa County. Call for site locations. The media is invited to attend the All-School Drill at this year's model school sites: Las Deltas Head Start in Richmond and Hidden Valley Elementary School in Martinez. Call in advance: Las Deltas Head Start, 135 W. Grove St, Richmond, Irma Shearrod-Owens, Site Supervisor, 510-374-3444; or Hidden Valley Elementary School, 500 Glacier Dr., Martinez, Lorie O'Brien, Principal, 925-228-9530.

Who

Last year, more than 250 schools and day care sites participated in the drill, which is sponsored by the Contra Costa County Community Awareness Emergency Response group (CAER), a California Public Benefit Corporation, with members from community, industry and government agencies.

Why

The possibility of disasters such as hazardous material accidents and the threat of terrorism make it important for residents - especially our children - to recognize and respond correctly to shelter-in-place alerts. Hazardous material releases can result from many sources in Contra Costa County, including accidents at refineries and chemical treatment plants and collisions involving trucks or trains transporting chemicals.

For more information about CAER's All School Drill, call 925-313-9296 or visit CAER's website: www.cococaer.org

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