Are you prepared to handle emergencies? How about severe weather or natural disasters? What if an influenza pandemic strikes again?Here at the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment, we’ve been working with many groups in our community to prepare for natural disasters, possible flu pandemics and other emergencies for some time now. As a part of that effort, we want to tell you about an interesting new program from the state of Colorado through which you can prove your preparedness prowess and be part of a reality competition.”What If? Colorado” is a six-month campaign now being unveiled that will pit Coloradans in friendly competition as they face emergency preparedness scenarios while living together for three days in a “What If? Colorado” house in the Denver area.Coloradans 18 and older are invited to send videos to audition to join in friendly competition against each other as they learn how to prepare for a variety of “disaster” challenges-all while practicing the easy steps Coloradans can take to protect themselves from emergencies out there in the “real world.”The “What If? Colorado” campaign, which includes other elements you’ll be hearing about soon, is an engaging approach to a very serious topic-emergency preparedness.Auditions from around the state will be judged by an expert panel for creativity, originality and relevance to the “What If? Colorado” campaign, and 45 finalists’ videos will be posted to www.WhatIfColorado.com for all to view.Then in early September, Colorado residents will vote online to select which nine finalists from around the state get to live together for several days in the “What If Colorado House” in the Denver area. In “Colorado House,” contestants will face a series of challenges designed to test their emergency preparedness skills and their knowledge of a variety of potential disasters that Coloradans could face-severe blizzards, extended power outages or public health emergencies.Ultimately, the winner of this competition will be named the “What If? Colorado” champion and will receive a cash prize. All of the Colorado House participants will receive gifts for their participation.The main sponsor is the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “What If? Colorado” is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.One of the goals of this campaign is to make it interesting and easy for residents to prepare for emergencies, which could strike at any time. So, campaign partner, King Soopers/City Market, plans to employ its 300 stores statewide to highlight the items that residents can buy to complete their emergency kits for home, work and vehicles. The idea is that if residents buy one or two of these items each week, they will end up with a nearly complete emergency kit by the end of the campaign.Another partner is Eldorado Natural Spring Water, which has provided special “What If? Colorado” branded water bottles that will be distributed across the state, free of charge, during this campaign.You’ll be hearing a lot more soon about “What If? Colorado,” including local and statewide flu vaccination clinics coming up this fall. As always, remember that your El Paso County Department of Health and Environment offers a variety of resource material to share with you as you prepare yourself, your family and your workplace for emergencies. Visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org for more information.To audition for “Colorado House” competition:There are three ways to audition for “What If? Colorado.” Colorado residents can audition at local events (dates and locations will be posted to www.WhatIfColorado.com), enter online at www.WhatIfColorado.com or submit your audition through U.S. Mail. To mail in your audition, follow the directions below:
- Prepare a video (in either VHS or DVD format) of yourself.
- Introduce yourself, giving your name, age and where you live.
- In one minute or less, answer the question, “In an emergency, what five things could you not live without?”
- Visit www.WhatifColorado.com to download and print an official audition application OR include your name, address and telephone number on an 8 X 10 piece of paper with your video submission.
- Mail your submission to “What If Colorado Auditions,” P.O. Box 13919, Denver, Colorado 80201.
- The deadline to submit video auditions is Aug. 31, 2007.
- For information about emergency preparedness, pandemic influenza or how to audition, visit www.WhatIfColorado.com or call the Colorado HelpLine, (877) 462-2911.
