Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the launch of a radio campaign designed to increase public awareness of the state's Ready Illinois Web site and encourage more people to be better prepared for disasters. The campaign, a partnership between the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF) and the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA), features three radio spots that will air more than 11,000 times on 220 radio stations statewide over the next seven months.

"We never know when disaster may strike, but we can take steps now to ensure we're ready to keep ourselves and our families safe whenever an emergency occurs," said Gov. Blagojevich. "The Ready Illinois Web site provides a wealth of information to help people before, during and after a disaster. This radio campaign will get the personal preparedness message out to millions of people throughout Illinois and remind them of this helpful preparedness resource."

The radio campaign, which begins this week, is the first phase of a preparedness campaign that will also feature TV preparedness spots. The radio spots include two 30-second spots in English and one 30-second Spanish spot. The humorous spots highlight the importance of having a family preparedness plan and home disaster kit, and direct listeners to the Ready Illinois Web site for more information.

"Thanks to the dynamics of our Public Education Partnership (PEP) program, the Illinois Broadcasters Association was able to help secure some of the brightest and most creative minds in the business to work on this campaign," said Dennis Lyle, President and CEO of the association. "Utilizing humor to educate listeners about a very serious subject is a tested formula in the advertising world. Our statewide members understand the importance of the message behind this campaign as it speaks to each and every one of their listeners, regardless of the media market size."

The $250,000 radio and TV preparedness campaign is being funded by the ITTF through homeland security grants to the state from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The TV spots are expected to begin airing later this summer.