Prepare To Be Amazed—I.I.I.’s “Know Your Plan” Emergency Preparedness App Selected For Koshland Science Museum’s Inaugural Idea Lab Interactive Exhibit

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE I.I.I. New York Press Office: (212) 346-5500; media@iii.org               
IBHS Press Office Contact: Tiffany O’Shea, Director, Public Affairs: 813-675-1047; toshea@IBHS.org

NEW YORK, May 30, 2014 —Disasters—fire, hurricanes, winter storms and earthquakes—are a fact of life for most Americans. But mobile devices and digital communications are powerful tools that can help communities and individuals plan ahead for catastrophes in order to reduce their devastating impact—and bounce back faster after they hit.
 
Beginning this spring, The Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences celebrates its 10th Anniversary with the launch of the Idea Lab collaboration space. The theme of the first Idea Lab exhibit focuses on community resilience: our ability to come together to prepare for, absorb, recover from and adapt to adverse events. Featured in this exhibit is the Insurance Information Institute’s (I.I.I.) award winning Know Your Plan app, available free for the more than 60 million iOS users in the United States*.  
 
Created in partnership with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a leading research and communications organization that identifies and promotes effective actions to reduce property damage from natural disasters, the Know Your Plan app gives users the ability to:
 
  • Prepare their homes against damage from fire, weather, seismic events and other threats.
  • Create disaster preparedness checklists, including where to find relief centers and other resources, and what to bring along for family members and even pets.
  • Map out escape routes and meeting points.
  • Keep in contact with friends, family, and community members—wherever and whenever
 
“The exhibit encourages visitors to think about building a culture of resilience,” says Patrice Legro, director, Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. “We hope that the multimedia resources in the exhibit will help visitors understand how to engage with their communities to be more resilient to the hazards we face.”
 
Says Andreá C. Basora, the I.I.I.’s executive vice president, “We’re pleased that the Koshland Science Museum is dedicated to fostering public awareness of effective disaster preparation strategies that everyone can use. An interactive exhibit is a terrific way to introduce users to disaster preparation tools and tactics—and we’re proud to have our Know Your Plan app included as part of the Museum’s inaugural Idea Lab.”
 
Julie Rochman, president and CEO, IBHS, adds, “The disaster preparedness checklists in the Know Your Plan app empower residents to take personal responsibility for ensuring their homes are prepared for severe weather events common in their location. Experience shows when homeowners, businesses and local governments are prepared, communities are better able to recover following a disaster. We hope the Koshland’s dynamic new exhibit inspires visitors to take action on a personal level, which will lead to creating more resilient communities.”
 

RELATED LINKS

 
 
Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here. The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel.
 

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038; (212) 346-5500; www.iii.org

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