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Emergency Operations Centers

Being prepared for emergencies includes being informed about how your community is (or is not) ready to handle disasters. For instance, emergency operations centers have popping up all over the country since 9-11, and there may be one right where you live. Boise City in Idaho officially opened and dedicated the city’s new Emergency Operations Center recently, and it’s located at he Boise Police and Fire headquarters. So just what is an emergency operations center? KIVI reports this:

An emergency operations center — or EOC — is a central command and control facility.

The Boise’s EOC is essentially a large information and communications center where leaders and supervisors can gather, collect up-to-the-minute information, and use that information to communicate the best operational response to protect life and property.

“Having one central location where all information is gathered and analyzed, and leaders can come together to make operational decisions while sharing information has been recognized, particularly since 9-11, as essential to public safety in emergencies or disasters,” [Boise Police/Boise Fire spokeswoman Lynn] Hightower said.

Now you know. With that said, it’s important to have your own communications plans in place for family and friends during an emergency. If you haven’t formulated a plan, or written it down, take the time to do so soon.

Source:
http://www.kivitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11663227

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Federal Disaster Aid for Louisiana

After 5 days of intense storms across a wide swath of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that it will release disaster related funds to help local governments recover. Tornadoes and flooding devastated several communities, and they’re still picking up the pieces to this day. Here’s a portion of the announcement from FEMA:

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in the parishes of Beauregard, Bossier, Caldwell, Claiborne, De Soto, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Union, and Webster.

As always, the federal dollars are filtered down to state, county and city governments, and at the end of the day, government entities absorb the majority of the funds. Though it’s not always the case, individuals and families who are hurt in these disasters often don’t see much in the way of funding from these gifts. It’s a good reminder to keep up on your homeowners or renters insurance, and to be prepared for both short-term and long-term emergency situations. It’s better to assume that you’ll be on your own in a major disaster scenario, than to hope that money will eventually filter its way down to your family.

Source:
http://media-newswire.com/release_1107859.html

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Crowdsourcing: The Future of Preparedness?

Here’s a technological advance in emergency preparedness to keep an eye on: crowdsourcing.  Emergency officials know that their own lines of communication are sometimes vulnerable, and they’re not able to respond to every emergency situation in a big crisis. A new technology app, called Usahidi, could be a solution. The creator is working on a way to tabulate information via social networking sites and other sources, to detect emergencies that government officials might not be aware of in a crisis situation:

Now the platform can be customized for different locales and needs, and it has already been used to track a variety of crises on a global (human trafficking, swine flu occurrences), regional (war in Gaza, stockouts of medical supplies at pharmacies in West Africa) and national scale (xenophobic attacks in South Africa, election monitoring in India, Afghanistan, and Mexico).

It looks like an interesting tool to keep an eye on, if they can figure out how to reliably filter information. Emergency officials could possibly determine where to send resources based on priority need, rather than guesswork, if the technology can be perfected. It also highlights the unchanging truth that government agencies cannot, by their very nature and purpose, respond perfectly to every situation, and therefore need all the help they can get. It’s also a good reminder for everyone to think about how they will communicate with friends and family during an emergency situation, especially if regular communication lines are down.

Source:
http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10014610o-2000581318b,00.htm

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Ice Storm Left People with No Power for 2 Weeks

The topic of emergency preparedness can seem overwhelming to some. So much so, that they’re afraid to even get started. I hope that’s not you. Look at what happened to more than one million households due to last year’s ice storms in New England. The Times Argus reports:

The federal government says it distributed nearly $80 million in disaster relief funds to four New England states following a devastating ice storm a year ago.

The Dec. 11-12, 2008, storm knocked out power to an estimated 1.4 million electric customers in the region. Some were without power for almost two weeks.

Can you imagine going without power for almost two weeks in the winter? Take an inventory of what you have in your home right now, including water, food and medical supplies. Do you have what you need to sustain and protect every member of your household? If not, start by purchasing home and car survival kits. All of the experts, including the American Red Cross and other organizations that are prepared to aid people during a time of disaster, are advising individuals to have their own kits. Help may not be able to arrive at your doorstep when there’s a natural disaster or other emergency. Once you have your basic kits, expand your supplies to last you 2, 4 and then 6 weeks, and eventually more.

Source:
http://www.timesargus.com/article/RH/20091212/THISJUSTIN/912120336/1003/NEWS02

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Fire Preparedness and Evacuations

When there’s a fire that’s uncontrollable, your only choice is to evacuate your home fast. You may not have time to grab anything, depending on the circumstances. Either way, you won’t have time to run around your home gathering documents, pictures and supplies to sustain you in the aftermath of a fire. The Grand Island Independent reports on an evacuation by Norfolk residents due to a recent fire emergency:

About 10,000 people live in the area of south Norfolk that was evacuated, according to Census figures. Norfolk’s latest population estimate is nearly 23,000. The city is about 100 miles northwest of Omaha.

“That constitutes, landmass-wise, about a third of the city,” said Al Roder, the Norfolk city administrator.

After the evacuation order was given, police pounded on doors and drove through neighborhoods, urging people within one mile of the propane tank to leave as quickly as possible.

Emergency preparedness includes protection for your most important and precious items. It’s important to put those things in your home survival kits so that if you need to evacuate in a hurry, you won’t forget them in the stress of the moment.  If you had to evacuate, could you do it safely and quickly?

Source:
http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/12/12/news/local/doc4b21dfff66a74687534045.txt

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Public Health Emergency Preparedness Reform

Due to the H1N1 vaccine shortages, the federal government is taking a look at its emergency preparedness plans as it relates to public health emergencies. The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has called for the review:

The government review — expected to be completed in early 2010 — will examine all aspects of public health emergencies, including terrorist attacks and natural disasters. But the catalyst for the call to action was H1N1, said Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, who is leading the review.

Dr. Lurie urged physicians and the public not to expect sweeping reform immediately.

“In four months we can’t fix everything. … But we can take a systems perspective, look at where the most vulnerable points in the system are, and look at the kinds of policies and investments we need to make to address those things,” she said in an interview.

Yet another announcement has been made by the government that it cannot help everyone in emergencies, this time in public health emergencies. Therefore, it’s necessary for you to prepare for those emergencies yourself. Do you have basic medical supplies on hand to aid you and your family if there are disease outbreaks?

Source:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/12/14/prl11214.htm

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Prepare for Weather-related House Fires

Some house fires are caused by accidents or negligence on the homeowner’s part. However, some are completely weather-related, as with a house fire that took place in recent days in Wisconsin. The Door County Advocate reports:

A downdraft due to high winds was the culprit in a furnace fire at the home of Jeff Miller.

The furnace loaded with propane ignited, said Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Tim Herlache, causing flames to shoot out of the front of the furnace, igniting insulation. The homeowner got the fire under control with a fire extinguisher, which saved the structure, Herlache said. Smoke damage and a lack of a heat source sent three adults and one child in that family to a hotel Wednesday.

Jeff was prepared with a fire extinguisher, which made a difference. It could have been worse for him and his family without one. Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, it’s important to have fire extinguishers (that work) ready and locatable in the event of an emergency. Also, if you have to bunker down at a hotel for some time, having a home or car kit with food and water can help to defray some of your expenses, while you’re away from home.

Source:
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091212/ADV01/912120393&located=rss

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Fire Prevention Tips

The best way to prepare for fires is to prevent them in the first place. The Greensboro Chapter of the American Red Cross in North Carolina has put out fire prevention tips after responding to eight home fires across three counties:

  • All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
  • Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
  • Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
  • Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
  • Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned if necessary.
  • If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.

Follow these tips in addition to the Red Cross’s recommendations to have a home emergency kit, and you’ll prepared to avoid or endure home fire emergencies.

Source:
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/12/11/article/red_cross_urges_heater_safety_to_prevent_fires

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The Cost of Not Being Prepared for Fires

Not being prepared for fires can be costly. Are you wondering how much it costs other agencies to help families recover from a fire? Alison Bono of the Mid-Michigan American Red Cross says:

“For a family of four it costs us about a thousand dollars to help them get back on their feet with prescriptions and clothes and a voucher in the hotel.”

And as the cold continues, Bono admits she’s concerned.

“Due to the economic climate here in Michigan, we’re very worried. We’re worried about the people that are using alternative methods to heat their homes and maybe not safe methods, you know, so I think we’re going to see an increase in home fires and apartment fires.”

The American Red Cross is unable to help everyone after a fire, and so is the government. Bono explained in her interview with WLNS that the Red Cross’ budget is tight, which means that some residents will have to rely on themselves.

You can prepare to recoup after a fire now, by learning fire safety tips and techniques, and by having emergency kits in your home and car should you need to evacuate. The education and kits will cost you much less than one thousand dollars, the cost to get a hotel room, eat out and buy other necessities due to fire loss. 

Source:
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11664358

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Disaster Preparedness Classes

The severe winter weather across many states is prompting individuals and organizations alike to make emergency preparedness a priority. The need for emergency kits is higher than ever before, but practicing how to use those skills and how to carry out plans for emergencies is just as important. That’s where a disaster preparedness class may come in handy, and they’re being offered by various chapters of the American Red Cross. WVUA reports:

The American Red Cross holds disaster preparedness classes and has plenty of flyers with information. Robyn Alexander, a volunteer at the West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross, said safety comes down to practice, and like the saying goes, practice makes perfect.

Alexander advised people to have a plan in place for severe weather and to have drills at their home to make sure everyone knows what to do. “Keep repeating it, just keep practicing as a family,” Alexander explained, “that way, if something should happen, instead of being so stressed out and so worried, you’ll be calm. You’ll have all your resources together.”

Is a chapter of the American Red Cross in your area holding a disaster preparedness class? It may be worth attending, even if you’re charged for the course.

Source:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20091208/WVUA01/912089956/1186/LIVING05?Title=Severe-Weather-Preparedness