Texas A&M President Bowen Loftin urges Aggies and others to prepare for disaster

COLLEGE STATION – In the wake of recent tornadoes and floods and as hurricane season begins, Aggies everywhere are urged to prepare for disasters and encourage others to do the same. That is the message from Texas A&M University President R. Bowen Loftin and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Texas A&M and TEEX have partnered on a Public Service Announcement on the importance of disaster preparedness. (View PSA on Youtube.)

The 2013 hurricane season is here, but severe weather and disasters can strike at any time of year. In lessons learned from the recent past, Texans need to be prepared for hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and flooding, as well as other emergencies that may require citizens to evacuate or shelter in place. 

Transcript of the PSA:

Howdy. Today I’m here to ask Aggies across our nation to do something for the good of their families, friends and communities. Be prepared for disasters; make a plan for evacuation or to shelter in place. Designate a point of contact out of the area to communicate your status and location. And always have a kit ready that includes what you need for at least 72 hours and have several ways to stay informed with accurate information. Aggies are leaders; lead the way and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Find out more at teex.org.

About TEEX

TEEX is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of emergency response, homeland security and workforce training, exercises, technical assistance, and economic development. The agency operates a comprehensive emergency preparedness and infrastructure training campus, which includes some of the world’s top facilities for hands-on training. TEEX offers on-site, customized training and services to businesses and industries, municipalities and public agencies across the globe.

Home to the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, TEEX also sponsors the elite Texas Task Force 1 urban search and rescue team and the Public Works Response Team. TEEX is a member of The Texas A&M University System.

About Dr. R. Bowen Loftin
Dr. R. Bowen Loftin was named the 24th president of Texas A&M University in 2010. Previously, he was Vice President and Chief Executive Officer at Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he also was professor of maritime systems engineering.