| November 2009 | |
| OKLAHOMA'S eGOV NEWS REPORT | |
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Welcome to Oklahoma's eGovernment News Report. We hope you enjoy the monthly report providing you with up-to-date information on Oklahoma's eGovernment achievements.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security Launches New Red Dirt Ready Web site to Help Oklahomans Prepare for Any Emergency The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS) is calling on all Oklahomans to get Red Dirt Ready as part of its new emergency preparedness initiative. Citizens from across the state are encouraged to log on to RedDirtReady.com, answer a few simple questions and learn how to be prepared for any crisis. “The safety of Oklahomans is always our top priority, whether it's during a natural disaster or a man-made tragedy,” said Kerry Pettingill, Oklahoma Homeland Security Director. “That's why we're asking everyone to take a few minutes and visit RedDirtReady.com. Our goal is to make sure everyone, young and old, is educated on how to prepare for and respond appropriately in an emergency.” Oklahomans are encouraged to assemble an emergency supply kit, have a safety plan and stay informed. According to Pettingill, the phrase ‘Red Dirt Ready' is a tribute to the enduring spirit of Oklahomans to pull together and face adversity head on. “Red dirt is a geographic icon for our state and serves as a symbol of our resilience and willingness to support each other in challenging times,” said Pettingill. “We're not afraid to get our hands dirty and reach out to those in need.” Visitors to RedDirtReady.com will find a user-friendly Web site featuring helpful information in the areas of personal preparedness, volunteerism, youth education and neighborhood security. Questionnaires help assess how prepared you currently are and help guide you toward opportunities to volunteer and assist emergency personnel through programs including:
“We want people to learn about the great programs that help keep our communities safe,” adds Pettingill. “It's vital for schools, businesses, neighborhoods, and households to plan ahead and be prepared. It's going to take everyone's involvement to get Oklahoma Red Dirt Ready.”
Oklahoma Grown Seedlings Available Online In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Forestry Services is offering three different packages of seedlings that will enhance the habitat of deer, songbirds, turkey, quail and a variety of other animals. Each wildlife packet is made up of 25 each of four different species of trees and shrubs chosen specifically to improve the wildlife habitat of your property. “Planting the appropriate trees can be a great way to enhance wildlife habitat on your property,” said Mike Sams, private lands biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Planting a tree today can be a long-term investment for future generations.”
Oklahoma grown seedlings are available to landowners for a broad range of conservation projects. Landowners use the trees for windbreaks to protect crops and livestock, timber production, water quality protection, erosion control or other natural resource projects such as firewood plantings and Christmas tree production. “Now is the time to begin thinking about planting seedlings and foresters from ODAFF are available to assist you,” according to State Forester John Burwell. “Oklahoma’s seedling planting season runs from December through early April and fall is the best time to prepare the planting site to make the planting job easier.” New for 2009 is an on-line store where landowners can go to purchase their wildlife habitat improvement packages, as well as choosing from over 35 species of trees and shrubs. Seedlings are one year old, bare-root, and each species is packaged in multiples of 50 with a minimum order of 100 trees. They are to be used in rural conservation plantings and cannot be used for ornamental plantings or resold as living trees. All orders will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis so landowners are encouraged to visit www.forestry.ok.gov today to choose their tree seedlings for planting this winter. The seedlings will be available for pickup or shipment starting in early January 2010, but orders are being taken now via the on-line store or you can request a paper order form by contacting the Department’s Forest Regeneration Center at 800-517-FOREST.
Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and Department of Environmental Quality have partnered to create a new travel initiative called ECO–Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma–which promotes, educates and encourages sustainable travel in the state. The ECO program approaches sustainable travel from both industry and consumer perspectives. It includes education, green certification and marketing support for tourism industry partners and helps them embrace sustainable travel practices for minimal economic impact with maximum return. ECO will also identify sustainable travel options such as lodging, restaurants and attractions so that tourists seeking green travel will have easy access to this information. |
What's Inside
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth - Lisa L. Smith,
- Steve Burrage, CPA,
How Do I Search for my Lost Pot O' Gold? How Do I Start a New Business?
Friday, December 25
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Oklahoma Wind Energy Conference Downtown in December
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About OK.gov
OK.gov is the official Web site of the state of Oklahoma and a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Office of State Finance (OSF) and Oklahoma Interactive, LLC to help Oklahoma government entities Web-enable their information services. OSF is responsible for OK.gov. Oklahoma Interactive operates, maintains, and markets OK.gov and is part of eGovernment firm NIC’s (NASDAQ: EGOV) family of companies.
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