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City of Madison's "ReadyFest" prepares families for emergency scenarios

The city of Madison hosted their annual "ReadyFest" bringing community resources together to prepare people for emergency scenarios.

MADISON, Ala. — From severe weather to public safety to financial security, the city of Madison wants to make sure you're covered.

That's why they hosted their annual community preparedness fair on Saturday, February 25,  also known as "ReadyFest."

Detective Teresa Taylor-Duncan, with the Madison City Police Department shares, "it's an annual event that we have to help prepare the citizens for all kinds of things from inclement weather, from natural disasters, also how to be proactive in protecting themselves and their family."

The city of Madison wants you and your family to remain safe and secure during emergency situations, here at ReadyFest, all ages learn about the community resources available to them.

One young attendee says, "I like the most is the dogs and the candy."

And although we all love dogs and candy, this event serves as a way for people to find out how to be prepared for the unexpected.

Ryan Gentry, who is the PIO and part of community outreach for Madison Fire and Rescue says, "we're in February, about to be in March, so we all know what that brings in north Alabama with severe weather."

At ReadyFest he educated the public on smoke detectors and how it's extremely important to not only check them during severe weather season, but throughout the year.

"Making sure that we're checking those monthly replacement batteries, if it's appropriate, every six months, and then replacing any and all detectors after ten years of life. No matter if they're still working or not," Gentry said.

Carbon monoxide safety is also at the forefront of conversation from the fire department, "making sure that we're keeping generators 50 feet away from the homes, not burning them or running them inside the garage, not using gas grills inside the garage with that carbon monoxide that can enter without us knowing it." 

Investigator Taylor-Duncan says, "being aware of whatever the threat is, whether it's weather, whether it's a natural disaster, or if it's everyday life...things that you're going to face on the street…"

She represents the free "RAD" program, also known as the Rape, Aggression, Defense Course.

"It's basically a program that empowers young women and gives them self-confidence, the ability to recognize where there might be threats, things that as young women, they're not aware of, talking about campus safety, talking about safety at home, safety at work," Investigator Taylor-Duncan said.

She adds the majority of physical violence cases their department sees is domestic violence. So this program, "gives women the ability to protect themselves, to recognize those trigger situations that they can be finding themselves in and to give them options to defend themselves and get themselves out of danger and out of harm's way."

To learn more about the program visit the city of Madison website or contact Investigator Taylor-Duncan at teresa.taylor-duncan@madisonal.gov.

The RAD program does have a waiting list to get into the class and the instructors provide the course every 60 days.

Ultimately, whatever the threat may be, the city of Madison hope people walk away from ReadyFest feeling confident that they have the tools, resources and knowledge to stay safe.

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