AG Applauds State Ranking on National Report Card

Hood also Urges Mississippians to Pull Emergency Plans Together Attorney General Jim Hood is applauding Mississippi for being one of 17 states meeting all recommended criteria on the most recent National Report Card issued by the Save the Children organization.  Additionally, since we are in Hurricane Season, he reminds residents to get their family emergency plans in order and to remain aware of scams that typically follow a disaster. The National Report Card ranks each state on emergency preparedness as it relates to children.  The report was designed to gauge the nation’s readiness in the decade following September 11. Mississippi was one of 17 states meeting all of the recommended criteria, which were: 1.       A Plan for Evacuating Kids in Child Care: The state requires all licensed child care facilities to have a written plan for evacuating and moving kids to a safe location for multiple disasters. 2.       An Evacuation Plan for Schools: The state requires all schools to have a disaster plan that accounts for multiple hazards (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires and terror attacks). 3.       Children with Special Needs: The state requires all licensed child care facilities to have a written plan that accounts for kids with special needs. 4.       Reunifying Families after a Disaster: The state requires all licensed child care facilities to have a written plan to notify parents of an emergency and reunite them with their kids. “In a recent call with Save the Children, Mississippi was called a leader in this area,” said Attorney General Hood.  “No doubt we learned from the hard knocks Katrina and other storms threw at us.  This report card is evidence that we took those punches, learned from them, and we are getting ourselves better prepared for other fights that may come.” Attorney General Hood encourages Mississippians to develop and practice their own emergency plans.  A copy of Mississippi’s Emergency Preparedness Guide is available at www.agjimhood.com and includes suggestions on what to include in a family plan as well as an emergency supply checklist.  The AG also recommends that you take time in advance of a storm to download a copy of the “model contract” (also at www.agjimhood.com), which will help you avoid becoming a victim of home repair fraud. “Having all your terms in a detailed, written contract will help you if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being conned by a crooked contractor,” said Attorney General Hood. Some other tips from the AG to protect yourself against home repair fraud after a storm: ·   Always get more than one estimate. ·   Request references and talk with those references. ·   Use Mississippi contractors if you can. ·   Be wary of supposed contractors who come to your home soliciting business. Most reputable contractors will be busy and won’t need to solicit business. As always, if you suspect home repair fraud or think you may have been conned by a scam artist, please contact the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division at 601-359-4230 or 1-800-281-4418.]]]]> ]]>