New Intern, Part 2

I would like to welcome Eric Matthews to Johnson County Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Eric is working as an intern in the office. His primary focus will be the creation of a resource management database. He is also a full-time firefighter for Overland Park Fire.

Welcome Eric!

YouTube -- FEMA's Channel

Dan Robeson, Assistant Director for Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, shared this link for FEMA's Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/fema. There are some very interesting videos. Currently there is a great video from June showing FEMA Director Paulson's personal preparedness efforts related to Hurricanes this past summer.

Thanks Dan!

A Month in Review

We are proud to serve the citizens of Johnson County. As such we would like to share that during the last month, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security accomplished the following things:

· Four staff members attended a professional conference

· Distributed 1,576 pieces of educational materials at seven different events
· Attended 54 separate local or regional meetings
· Were mentioned in organizational or local media nine different times
· Started the Johnson County Emergency Preparedness Blog
· Gave five hours of presentations at four different events
· Distributed two press releases to local media
· Announced Nick Crossley as Director
· Created a new Internship program (two new interns)
· Provided 28 hours of training to JOCO staff

We look forward to continuing to serve our citizens in as many ways as possible.

Prepare the Need

Johnson County Government is a strong supporter of the United Way's "Feed the Need" program. The 2008 campaign is underway and support is always appreciated. I would also like to propose a concept for future discussion -- "Prepare the Need". Much like the need for food, communities must also consider what steps should be taken to Prepare the entire community for disasters including those who can't afford or aren't otherwise able to create emergency supply kits.

Give us your feedback as we continue to consider new and innovative ways to make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared!

What's your RQ?

Johnson County Emergency Management in conjunctionwith the Council for Excellence in Government has created a new site that measures your Readiness Quotient (that's a fancy term for 'how ready are you for disasters'). You can take the survey at www.jocoem.org/rq.htm. This survey will help you understand more about how to prepare for disasters and emergencies and help Johnson County determine how to better prepare our citizens.

Welcome the New Intern!

Libby Rippen a Senior at the University of Kansas will be joining Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security as an Intern for the Fall Semester. Welcome Libby!

Great Metro KC Website

For those of you who aren't aware, there is a great Emergency Preparedness site that is at www.preparemetrokc.org. It was developed for Emergency Managers by Emergency Managers. It is interactive and has great information and tools for personal family plans as well as audio and visual support on various topics. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Emergency Preparedness Fair -- October 11th

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Fair on October 11th. The fair will include information tables and free classes on a variety of topics including diaster preparedness, fire prevention, severe weather awareness, and continuity of operations for churches. For more information and to register for classes, please visit http://www.cor.org/calendar/church-calendars-service-opportunities/single-views/calendar-item/article/disaster-relief-emergency-preparedness-fair-1011/back/5194/.

Johnson County personnel from Emergency Management & Homeland Security as well as Public Health will be presenting.

New Survey!

There is a new survey posted on teh Emergency Preparedness in Johnson County Blog. It asks the question: "Do you know what to do if you were told to Shelter in Place?". This is a very important question. If you aren't sure, I recommend you visit www.preparemetrokc.org. That website has great information about this topic.

I'll let you know next week how the survey turned out!

YouTube Preparedness Video Contest

The "In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog" blog that is attached to this blog posted information about YouTube's Project:Report (http://www.youtube.com/projectreport). This contest encourages “aspiring journalists to produce short, high-quality video pieces focused on stories that are not usually covered by the traditional media.”

Much like the blog above I would like to encourage people to consider emergency preparedness profiles as part of this project. You could even profile the local vision of Johnson County become a community prepared and the challenges related to it.

The winner will receive a $10,000 grant for travel abroad and the opportunity to work with the Pulitzer Center. Finalists will also receive high-end video and editing equipment from Sony and be featured on the YouTube homepage. The submission deadline is October 5th.

Best of Luck!

KEMA Conference (Day 2)

Emergency management personnel are at the KEMA Conference again today. Today's topics included communication, sheltering, animal issues, and the intergration of free technologies (ex: GoogleEarth). We also heard a summary of emergency management issues over the last 12 months from General Tod Bunting, the Adj. General for the State of Kansas.

KEMA Conference (Day 1)

Many emergency management and preparedness personnel are currently attending the Kansas Emergency Management Association's (KEMA) Annual Conference.  The first day was filled with interesting topics including a look to the future of weather forecasting and prediction as well as presenters on legislative challenges and pet sheltering.

Get Ready Day!

Emergency Management in partnership with the Johnson County Public Health Department will be providing information at two booths today from 11 am to 2 pm. Information on a variety of preparedness topics will be provided. Personnel will be at the East entrance of the Johnson County Administration building and in the Mission Building.

We've still got lots of "Green" preparedness bags to give out. See you there!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

The Olathe News ran an article (http://www.theolathenews.com/home/story/227001.html) in their Saturday edition that focused on the emergency preparedness activities of Johnson County and the city of Olathe. There also was a guest column by Adam Crowe (Assistant Director of Emergency Management) that was called "A Culture of Preparedness". Unfortunately it's only available in print.

Let us know what you think!

There's no such thing as the "Johnson County Bubble"

Last Friday evening Johnson County experienced significant severe weather. Multiple tornado warnings were issued and/or extended over almost all of Johnson County. The outdoor weather sirens were set up as were weather radios to notify all citizens. And while many people often down the necessity of such action, there was at least one confirmed tornado in the DeSoto area that did significant damage to property.

This is why we have the outdoor warning siren system and why it is set off. It's not a matter of if, but rather only when.

New Ready.gov Preparedness Blog

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security annouced the creation of a new preparedness blog. It is available under "My Blog List" on the right side of the Johnson County Emergency Preparedness blog. It has lots of information and ties to other Homeland Security blogs.

Enjoy!

Remember 9/11

It's been seven years since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Everyone was impacted in different and unique ways.

We encourage everyone to pause for a few moments today to reflect on what happened, where we are, and where we are going as a better prepareded country.

Emergency Preparedness in the Johnson County Sun

Johnson County's emergency preparedness efforts (as well as this blog) are mentioned in today's copy of the Johnson County Sun. If you didn't get a copy, you can read the article here: http://www.sunpublications.com/articles/2008/09/10/overland_park_sun/news/doc48c6e8578f01b490924341.txt#blogcomments.

Hurricane Update

If you are interested in hurricane information, this website provides significant coverage of all things hurricane: http://media.myfoxtampabay.com/myfoxhurricane/.

Weekend Follow-Up

It was great to see many of you out at Old Settlers Days in Olathe or down at Science City at Union Station. We handed out nearly 1,000 pieces of educational information as well as dozens of new 'green' preparedness bags. Our office is always open to public education opportunities and new community partnerships.

New Blog Management Tool

The Emergency Preparedness in Johnson County Blog now is available via email subscription. It's free and easy! All you have to do is submit your email address in the box to the right and then follow the directions in the email that will be sent to you!

Thanks for being interested in preparedness in Johnson County!

New Director of Emergency Management

Nick Crossley was named the Johnson County Director of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Nick previously served as the Assistant Director of Planning and Mitigation and is well respected throughout the United States.

Let us all wish him well!

News & Notes

Come see us at the following locations this weekend:

Old Settlers Days in Downtown Olathe, and/or

Union Station's Science City for their Family Safety Day

We will be handing out our "Green" canvas totes. Just come by and see us to get one.

Old Settlers Days!

Johnson County Emergency Management in conjunction with our community partners in Olathe and at the Sheriff's Department will have a booth out for Old Settlers Days. We will be providing information and handouts on a variety of preparedness topics. Visitors of all ages are welcome to come by and see us. Our booth is on Cherry St. just to the east of the Courthouse.

Consider Pets

Have you considered what you will do with your pets in a disaster or emergency situation? Would you go to a shelter without them? Do you have food, water, and animal treatments for them if you have to shelter in place?

Track Hurricanes through Google Tools

Google (as is often the case) has two new interactive tracking tools to observe the tracks and projected paths of all Hurricanes this season. These are very interesting tools.

IBISEYE -- http://www.ibiseye.com/

STORM ADVISORY -- http://stormadvisory.org/map/atlantic

Online Newsroom -- Gustav

This is a very social marketing and education site run by the American Red Cross related to their ongoing efforts related to Katrina.

http://hurricanegustav.wordpress.com/

NBC Action Weather Blog

I found an interesting blog that is run by KSHB-TV, NBC Action News in the Kansas City viewing marketing. The NBC Action Weather Blog is available at http://community.nbcactionnews.com/blogs/weatherblog/default.aspx.

Check it out for interesting information and graphics about upcoming weather in this area.