Join us for the
Next Meeting of the 2007
SACRAMENTO CLAIMS ASSOCIATION
Thursday August 9, 2007

as we welcome guest speaker
Gary Dietrich
Citizen Voice

SAFELY OUT™
A Disaster Evacuation Project of Citizen Voice

Recall the images from Hurricane Katrina of frail elderly residents being floated out on mattresses, young children separated from their parents, hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes and others who were rescued days later starving and emaciated. Remember too the 2006 California heat wave that took dozens of lives, and just weeks ago the Lake Tahoe Angora fire which displaced thousands as fire ravaged their homes. These are examples of some of the real life horrors that SAFELY OUT™ is designed to address.

SAFELY OUT™ is a disaster evacuation project of Citizen Voice developed to ensure that all individuals and especially our most vulnerable citizens – including the disabled, frail seniors, young children and more – are protected during a natural or manmade disaster. The foundation of the project is the SAFELY OUT™ Kit which includes critical communication tools to help streamline evacuations. It emphasizes a neighbor helping neighbor approach of assisting vulnerable populations in reaching safety and relieving the burden that first responders and caregivers often shoulder alone.

Sacramento’s Gary Dietrich, a broadcast political analyst and president of Citizen Voice, came up with the idea for SAFELY OUT after both volunteering and broadcasting from the hurricane zone immediately following Hurricane Katrina. “I saw how desperate people were to find safety and reconnect with their loved ones. I witnessed the unprecedented job of the first responders to go house-to-house trying to determine if a house was empty or not – watching them use a spray painted “X” as a means to communicate,” explained Dietrich. “But most importantly, I understood the danger facing the vulnerable who couldn’t get themselves out of harm’s way.” Upon his return, SAFELY OUT was developed by Citizen Voice (the nonprofit, nonpartisan movement he co-founded with his wife, Elyse) along with technical support from the Sacramento-Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Within just four months of the launch of SAFELY OUT on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in August 2006, Citizen Voice had commitments for 10,000 SAFELY OUT kits to be distributed in the Sacramento pilot region. The focus now is securing commitments for 100,000 kits in the pilot region by the end of 2007 before beginning expansion statewide and then nationally. To reach this goal, sponsors are actively being sought for the $1 million total needed to complete the pilot project. Many businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and faith-based organization have already come on board including the County of Sacramento, the City of Sacramento, the California HealthCare Foundation, Capital Christian Center, Eskaton, Steamatic of Sacramento, Kaiser, First Responder Ambulance Company, Soroptomist International, Rotary and more. Those interested in joining the effort may contact Elyse Dietrich at the (916) 503-3194.

Elements of the SAFELY OUT™ Kit include:

• SAFELY OUT™ Door Hanger (that can be used to signal for assistance using the red “NEED HELP” side, and let others know when the vulnerable are “SAFELY OUT™” using the green “SAFELY OUT” side.)

• SAFELY OUT™ Refrigerator Magnet Booklet (with essential contact and evacuation information tailored to the needs of each individual or family.)

• SAFELY OUT™ Helper Information Sheets (giving those volunteering to assist a vulnerable person the information they need to help.)

• SAFELY OUT™ Storage Bag (for keeping spare medicines, medical insurance information, etc. safe inside the refrigerator – a place that is air tight, water tight, and fire resistant.)

• SAFELY OUT™ Wallet Information Card (carried by the vulnerable in the event of disaster while away from home.)

• SAFELY OUT™ Kit How-To Brochure (describing simply how to use the kit.)

• A permanent marker and erasable ink pen to complete the kit contents.

• An adhesive strip to hang the “NEED HELP” sign in a window should the front door not be easily visible.

Kits are available online at www.CitizenVoice.org, or by mail. A $10 suggested minimum contribution per kit is requested (plus $2.50 shipping/handing per kit for mail orders.) Those individuals, groups and businesses interested in ordering kits, making a contribution to get kits to others in need, or becoming a SAFELY OUT project sponsor can inquire at www.CitizenVoice.org or by calling (916) 503-3194. Kit orders and contributions can be made online or by mail (this is only a mailing address, there is no counter service available at this address) to Citizen Voice, 1215 K Street, 17th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Gary Dietrich graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California with an emphasis in domestic and international affairs, and received his master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He was awarded a prestigious California State Senate Fellowship, served as a staff member to the California Assembly and the state Senate, and has worked on campaigns from legislative to presidential. He now serves as a widely respected, nonpartisan broadcast political analyst and has appeared on state, national and international television and radio. In northern California, he serves as the station political analyst for the largest newstalk radio stations in the region, KFBK and KSTE in Sacramento and KGO in San Francisco. In addition, he is the co-founder and president of Citizen Voice, a new nonpartisan movement to involve citizens in the public arena. He is an accomplished professional speaker, having addressed thousands of youth and adults regarding the impact of politics, public policy, and government on their lives, their state, and their nation.

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Citizen Voice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan movement with a mission to inspire, inform and involve citizens in the public arena on behalf of all, especially the vulnerable. Citizen Voice fulfills its mission by involving citizen in both practical immediate intervention and work towards long-term changes that protect the vulnerable. We do this through nonpartisan Citizen Involvement projects and Protect the Vulnerable projects, a growing menu of opportunities like the SAFELY OUT project for individuals and groups to get involved in areas of interest.

Your early reservation is highly encouraged and appreciated: barbarap@eldoradorestoration.com