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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2024
Clayton County Office of Emergency Management to host FIRST METRO ATLANTA Praise and Preparedness Summit
(Jonesboro GA) The Office of Emergency Management, along with Clayton County Commissioner DeMont Davis (District 4), is hosting the first metro Atlanta Praise & Preparedness Summit on Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The free summit will be held at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, located at 2530 Mt. Zion Parkway, Jonesboro.
The event is part of the Georgia Emergency Management (GEMA) and Homeland Security Agency’s (HS) Praise & Preparedness initiative. The Praise and Preparedness Summit’s keynote speaker is James C. Stallings, Director of GEMA/HS. He will address the importance and need for members of the faith-based community and the community at large to prepare for natural and man-made emergencies even more so now than ever before.
“As we are experiencing unprecedented disasters it’s important for organizations that are called upon to assist during disasters to be well prepared and equipped to do so. When disaster strikes, many people turn to faith-based organizations for support and guidance. Therefore, our main goal at the Praise and Preparedness Summit is to make sure Clayton County’s faith-based community is properly prepared to handle the situation per GEMA and County guidelines” stated David Vazquez, Director of Emergency Management. “Our Praise and Preparedness Summit plays a role in ensuring faith-based organizations are trained with boots on the ground and ready to assist.
Other speakers include Bret Hobson who serves as the Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; Zach Williams, the Protective Security Advisor (PSA) for Georgia’s Central District which includes 45 counties in metro and central Georgia; and Jason Ritter a Public Safety professional with over 22 years of experience in the Public Safety arena and is currently with Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security in the Field Operations Division and responsible for a 25 county area in West Central Georgia.
Through the Praise & Preparedness initiative, GEMA/HS provides faith-based organizations with information, ideas, and materials to prepare for disasters. This includes but is not limited to emergency plan templates, flyers, emergency supply checklists, family communications plan worksheets, and more. Those in attendance will also receive information regarding opportunities to apply for State grants for equipment and supplies that will assist in creating a safer environment for their houses of worship.
The event is free and open to the public however you must register to attend. For more information or to register for the summit visit https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/praiseandpreparedness.
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