The Board of Supervisors today adopted Vision4Safety, a new campaign that aims to improve safety and emergency preparedness in San Bernardino County by connecting people to community policing, emergency response and disaster planning programs and encouraging them to follow professional tips to keep their families safe.
“We know that safe communities attract investment and opportunity to San Bernardino County and that’s why we support Vision4Safety,” said Robert Lovingood, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “I encourage residents to get to know their neighbors and form watch groups – in person or online, volunteer for community emergency response teams and make sure you and your family are prepared for disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes, which are all too common in San Bernardino County.”
The Vision4Safety campaign officially kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 7 on National Night Out, a community-building event that promotes partnerships between communities and police and emergency services. A listing of National Night Out events in San Bernardino County can be found at www.Vision4Safety.com. Participants in the Vision4Safety campaign are encouraged to post a photo or video or livestream on social media using #Vision4Safety. Posts will be shared on Facebook at San Bernardino Countywide Vision or on Twitter and Instagram @SBCVision.
The community-driven Countywide Vision project is focused on creating a safe, healthy and prosperous future for all who live, work, play and otherwise invest in the county. Public safety has a direct and profound impact on several elements of the “complete community” the public desires, especially jobs and the economy, education and wellness. Several studies have shown a correlation between a reduction in violent crimes and an increase in housing values. Such studies also find that exposure to violence and crime at school, home or in a neighborhood can impact a child’s emotional and cognitive development and cause depression, violent behavior and poor performance in school. According to a 2006 survey of more than 600 California youth ages 12 to 17 commissioned by “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids,” teens left unsupervised three or more days per week are twice as likely to spend time with gang members after school and three times more likely to engage in criminal behavior than teens who are supervised.
Crime is not the only factor impacting the safety of the county. Earthquakes, wildfires and floods also occur in the county with the potential to disrupt communities and cause damage and casualties. While the public safety agencies are responding to an emergency, citizens are expected to provide for their own needs for at least 72 hours following a catastrophic event. It is important that every household and business have an emergency preparedness plan and supplies, and regularly practice the plan. A 2015 survey conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that only about 40 percent of American adults say they have developed an emergency preparedness plan for their home, discussed it with their household, or practiced a plan at home or work in the past year.
Throughout the campaign, www.Vision4Safety.com will serve as a resource and provide residents with information about connecting with all the law enforcement and fire agencies in San Bernardino County, how to get involved in neighborhood watch groups, volunteering for emergency response and disaster planning programs, and signing up for local after-school programs.
The site will also serve as a one-stop shop for videos on emergency preparedness planning and safety tips for families and businesses. Links to download the Ready SB app are also available at www.Vision4Safety.com.
The Countywide Vision was adopted in June 2011 by the Board of Supervisors and the San Bernardino Council of Governments in partnership with the community in order to develop a roadmap for the future of San Bernardino County, which includes creating a healthy and prosperous future for all who live, work and play here. Vision4Safety is the third public campaign of the Countywide Vision Project following the successful Vision2BActive physical fitness initiative that began in December 2016 and the Vision2Read literacy initiative that started in September 2015.