Marines

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Breck Bregel, a retired Navy chaplain and life skills trainer with Marine Corps Family Team Building, teaches the Emergency Preparedness workshop, hosted at Marine Corps Family Team Building aboard MCB Camp Lejeune’s Midway Park residential area recently. The workshop covers every type of natural disasters, and the actions to take before, during and after.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Nik S. Phongsisattanak

Workshop prepares families for natural disaster

5 Jul 2012 | Lance Cpl. Nik S. Phongsisattanak Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Nature has dealt North Carolina’s coast every natural disaster there is. These disasters can create chaos, but developing a plan can help manage the disorder and keep families safe.

Patrons of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune face the possibility of dangerous and destructive weather every year. To assist families in preparing for these worst-case scenarios, Marine Corps Community Services offers their Emergency Preparedness workshop, hosted at Marine Corps Family Team Building aboard MCB Camp Lejeune’s Midway Park residential area.

The workshop covers every type of natural disasters, and the actions to take before, during and after. This class also included a lesson on weather terminology, guidance on making emergency kits and family emergency plans including plans for pets.

“We all know we should do this stuff, but there really isn’t a sense of urgency until we get the weather report. Then it becomes overwhelming.” said Anne Morey, the family readiness officer with 2nd Marine Division. “There is a sense of importance here. There are a lot of things we are told to do and think about, but this really is important and the consequences can be devastating.”

Breck Bregel, a retired Navy chaplain and life skills trainer with MCFTB, consulted with emergency management officials aboard base to help develop the ciriculum.

A folder of information on everything discussed in the class is given to class participants with pages of resources listed for helpful references on planning for emergencies.

Families should always know what to do, and the class covers everything to ensure no detail is left out, said Bregel.

Hurricanes and tornadoes have the power to destroy homes and cities, but MCCS offers base patrons power in the form of knowledge, knowledge to keep families ahead and ready for the possible storm.

“If we’re prepared, whatever comes our way can be faced without the anxiety,” said Bregel. “It’s just like preventative medicine. It gives you greater peace of mind, and its stress management. Being prepared for natural disasters is important because help isn’t always available when everyone is affected and in need. We have to be able to help ourselves by properly planning.”

Future classes:

July 16

Aug. 6 and 28

For more information on this workshop, visit www.mccslejeune.com or call 451-0176.