DOWNEY - The Downey Emergency Preparedness Committee and CERT volunteers will be distributing plastic food-grade barrels on Saturday morning, Sept. 25.The distribution of the barrels will begin at 8 a.m. The event will end when the supply of barrels is exhausted or at 11 a.m., whichever comes first. The barrels are a donation from the Downey Coca-Cola facility and staff. The location of the giveaway will be the Discovery Sports Complex and Columbia Memorial Space Center on Columbia Way, near Lakewood Boulevard. Community members interested in picking up a free emergency water storage barrel must enter the event from Bellflower Boulevard and proceed west on Steve Horn Way and follow the signs to the staging area at the park. There will be no entry into the distribution event from Columbia Way or Ardis Street, though these two streets will be kept open for Kaiser Hospital and park traffic. The distribution will be a 'drive-thru' only event. There will be no accommodations for walk-up visitors. All attendees will be directed to stay with their vehicles as they work their way through the distribution effort. The storage of an ample supply of fresh water is one of the most important actions community members can take as they prepare for an emergency. Fresh water is almost always in short supply after disasters. Experts recommend each person store a minimum of 3-7 gallons of water for emergency use. Additional water should be stored for pets. Each barrel is cleaned and rinsed by Coca-Cola staff members before delivery to the distribution site by Coca-Cola trucks and drivers. The barrels vary in size from 15-55 gallons. The exact quantity of each size of barrel varies for each event. A special instructional label is attached to each barrel. The minimal program costs have been off-set by the sale of accessory tools for use with the barrels. Final details for the distribution event, and a map, will be provided to The Downey Patriot and posted on the City website next week.

********** Published: September 16, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 22