Families Still Extremely Unprepared for Emergencies, Says Survey Conducted During National Preparedness Month

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new survey, sponsored by Embarq Corporation in conjunction with the nonprofit Home Safety Council(R) (HSC), revealed that despite recent emphasis on the need for families to prepare for emergencies, many households lack key components of good emergency planning. The survey of mothers and their third-or fourth- grade children in EMBARQ(TM) service areas found that 40 percent of mothers said their family does not have a family emergency communication plan and nearly half do not carry an ID card with essential contact information.

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To help people prepare and have crucial information available at all times, HSC and EMBARQ have created wallet-sized emergency communication cards. The free cards include space to list important phone numbers and medical information. Each card comes in a small, sealable plastic bag to help protect it from water damage. The cards are available at EMBARQ(TM) Retail Stores (visit http://embarq.com/stores for a list of stores near you) and at http://www.embarq.com/emergency .

"Creating an emergency communication plan is simple. First, families should discuss how they will communicate during an emergency and then record important plan information on their emergency communication cards," said Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy. "Making sure every family member has this information at his or her fingertips can be a lifesaver if you're in different places when disaster strikes."

"When an emergency occurs, the first thing people often reach for is a phone to call their loved ones. As a communication company we can help people prepare, especially when staying connected by phone may be an individual's lifeline," said Harry Campbell, president of consumer markets, EMBARQ. "This is why EMBARQ and the Home Safety Council have developed these free wallet-sized cards."

To prepare for emergencies, HSC strongly recommends having a corded landline phone, which is a phone that has a hand set connected to the base of the phone by a cord.

"Corded landline phones will continue to operate if the power goes out at your home," said Appy. "It is often the most reliable source of communication in the case of an emergency."

Additionally, HSC and EMBARQ recommend the following: -- A "Ready-to-Go kit" and a "Ready-to-Stay kit" containing water, canned food, can-opener, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, change of clothes and first-aid supplies. -- Designate a safe meeting location outside of your home and out of harm's way. -- Designate a safe place to stay in your home (away from windows) in case of severe weather. -- Plan and practice a home fire drill. -- Regularly test your smoke alarms. -- Teach your children how to use the phone to call for help. -- Learn about the types of possible emergencies and how to respond to each. Local Survey Findings: -- Florida - Nearly 40 percent of moms and children surveyed said they don't have a communication plan. -- Las Vegas - Nearly one-third of moms and nearly half the children surveyed said they don't have a communication plan. -- Ohio - More than 40 percent of moms and children surveyed said they don't have a communication plan. -- Eastern North Carolina - 45 percent of moms and 40 percent of children said they don't have a communication plan. -- Tri-Cities, TN - A third of moms and children surveyed said they don't have a communication plan.

The EMBARQ and HSC Disaster Preparedness survey was conducted by Weekly Reader Research from September 8-18, 2006. For the survey, a representative sample of 2,500 third and fourth grade children were interviewed from the following EMBARQ(TM) markets, Ohio, eastern North Carolina, Las Vegas, Florida and Tri-Cities and Tennessee. Within each EMBARQ(TM) market, 100 parents of children that completed the survey participated in an adult version of the survey.

The survey of mothers had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level and child survey had a margin of error of +/- 1.8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the results of public opinion polls. To learn more about Weekly Reader Research, log onto http://www.weeklyreaderresearch.com/ .

About EMBARQ

EMBARQ , headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a complete suite of common sense communications services. The company has approximately 20,000 employees and operates in 18 states. EMBARQ, which is expected to rank among the Fortune 500, is included in the S&P 500.

For consumers, EMBARQ offers an innovative portfolio of services that includes reliable local and long distance home phone service, high-speed Internet, wireless, and satellite TV from DISH Network(R) -- all on one monthly bill.

For businesses, EMBARQ has a comprehensive range of flexible and integrated services designed to help businesses of all sizes be more productive and communicate with their customers. This service portfolio includes integrated local voice and data services, long distance, Business Class DSL, wireless, enhanced data network services, voice and data communication equipment and managed network services.

EMBARQ believes that by focusing on the communities the company serves and by employing common sense and practical ingenuity, it is able to provide customers with a committed partner, dedicated customer service and innovative products for work and home. For more information, visit embarq.com.

About the Home Safety Council

The Home Safety Council(R) (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Washington, DC. For more information, visit http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/ .