Resolve to Be Ready in the New Year

I would like to thank all of you who have completed the Preparedness Survey that was posted a few days ago. Your answers have been very helpful.

As for 2008, on behalf of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security as well as all of the Emergency Preparedness personnel in the County, I would like to thank you for all your support over the past year as we make a concerted effort to continue to be a community prepared.

Lastly, remember that you can resolve to be ready in 2009. There are simple steps that we can all take. Have an emergency supply kit, make a family plan, and stay informed.

Happy New Years!

Clarification Regarding Siren Activation

The cities in Johnson County actually own the outdoor warning sirens that you hear during severe weather events. While Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security maintains the primary responsibility of activating the system when necessary, several cities (including Overland Park, Gardner, Lenexa & Olathe) also maintain the capability as well. These cities can and will blow the sirens when deemed appropriate or necessary. More information about the Johnson County outdoor warning notification system can be viewed here.

Triple Redundancy

Several of you have asked for me to give more details about how Johnson County is prepared for emergencies and disasters. After the tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warnings that impacted Johnson County on Friday, I thought I would share more about our emergency notification system.

Specifically, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security has the primary responsibility of monitoring the weather to determine when to blow the outdoor warning siren system (for more information as to when, click here). The Johnson County Emergency Communication Center and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department provide a secondary and tertiary support for this function in case the sirens can not be sounded by Emergency Management for whatever reason.

So in summary, this emergency preparedness function has triple redundancy to ensure the County is as prepared as it came be to serve and protect out citizens.

Severe Weather Even in December!

My NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio went off Friday night for a tornado watch for most of the Kansas City Metro area. Those of you at home with weather radios probably heard it as well. Many of you may have been surprised since it's late December, but consider it a casual reminder that conditions that can lead to severe weather (and thus tornado warnings) can happen any time of year. Enjoy the rest of your holidays and be safe.

Johnson County Wishes You a Safe and Warm Holiday

On behalf of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security as well as the hundreds of personnel in Johnson County who work to keep the county prepared for emergencies and disasters....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

May you be safe, warm, and happy this holiday season.

New Preparedness Survey

As we prepare for 2009, we would like your help in determining how prepared Johnson County is for emergencies and disasters. The following six question survey will be available for the next thirty days. The more responses we get the better, so please share with your friends and family!

http://survey.jocogov.org/Surveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?surveyid=1185

Reminder about Winter Weather Safety

The following quote regarding a mid-December storm in New York was shared with me:

“Emergency management officials reported four storm-related deaths. A Danville man died of carbon monoxide poisoning from the generator he was using after his power went out Thursday night. Carbon monoxide from a gasoline-powered generator killed a couple in their 60s at Glenville, N.Y., police said Saturday.” (Associated Press, “Progress to Restore Power to Northeast Slow, 15 Dec 08)

We all need to be careful when we prepare for severe winter weather. Be careful when you are using generators because using them incorrectly (or in the wrong place) can be very dangerous.

What is....Hazard Mitigation?

You may have heard the term 'hazard mitigation' when discussing emergency management and preparedness issues. Hazard mitigation are the actions taken to reduce or eliminate a given hazard in the community. From the county perspective, we look at structural and non-structural mitigation issues. For instance, building a reinforced shelter area at a new school would be an example of structural mitigation. Non-structural mitigation example would be building codes that require buildings to be built to a certain strength in preparation for certain hazards.

Johnson County and many of the jurisdictions and cities within the county are currently completing a hazard mitigation plan. Once this plan is approved by FEMA, jurisdictions are eligible to receive mitigation funding from the federal government which helps suppliment various projects.

Hazard mitigation is not just done by the county. Individuals at home or employees for a business can conduct personal mitigation as well. These are actions that help reduce risk within your immediate surroundings. An example would be to properly secure flammable materials or to make sure all chemicals are stored and labeled properly.

Response to So-Called Natural Hazards "Death Map"

Some of you may have seen several articles discussing new research on natural hazards. Many of the articles referred to the research as a "Death Map" because it discussed the impact of various hazards throughout the United States. I called Dr. Susan Cutter (the lead researcher) to discuss the project with her. The original article was entitled "Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States" and was never intended to be as sensational as what was reported by the various media outlets. The intention of the research team was to provide further analysis of natural hazards to aid State and local emergency management agencies better prepare for the hazards in their respective communities.

In Johnson County, we prepare for all-hazards that are a threat to this area. To learn more about what Johnson County is doing or what you can do to prepare, visit www.jocoprepared.org.

New Preparedness Video

Here is the link to a very cool and well done preparedness video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opXZY1zZ8xk. While it is focused on earthquake preparedness, it mentions some good personal practices and also emphasises the total impact of large disasters which can come in many forms.

What is....Special Needs Populations?

According to research conducted by the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee (MEMC) here in the Kansas City Metro, special needs populations are those individuals with additional needs due to added personal vulnerability they may have in life. These additional vulnerabilities were classified into five categories as follows:

• Age Vulnerable (under 5 or over 65)
• Limited Language Proficiency (Non-english speaking and/or illiterate)
• Geographical or Cultural Isolation
• Disability (Physical, mental, cognative, or sensory)
• Economically challenged (within 200% of Federal poverty level)

Some studies have estimated that as much as 50% of any community may fall into one or more of these categories. It is a significant challenge for emergency managers, but we are continually trying to identify better ways to prepare for the added challenges of vulnerable populations.

If you feel you may fall into one these categories and want to know more about what can be done, visit this website.

What is...Emergency Management?

Emergency management is the continuous process by which all individuals, groups, and communities manage hazards in an effort to avoid or reduce the impact of disasters resulting from the hazards. Actions taken depend in part on perceptions of risk of those exposed. Effective emergency management is present and active before, after, and during a disaster. This all-hazards approach helps communities prepare for and respond to disasters as well as recovery from their impact. Emergency management also coordinates the mitigation (or reduction) of hazards in the community.

In Johnson County, the office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security coordinates these efforts with many county, city, and non-profit partners to ensure Johnson County is a Community Prepared! For more information about these activities, visit www.jocoem.org or www.jocoprepared.org.

Johnson County Emergency Preparedness Staff With FEMA Administrator

At the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Conference that was held in Overland Park in November, Nick Crossley (Director) and Dan Robeson (Assistant Director) of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security were able to meet with FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison to discuss critical issues related to emergency preparedness not only in Johnson County, but America as a whole. This was a fantastic opportunity for Johnson County to shine!

What is....Homeland Security?

I would like to start a series of postings entitled the "What is..." series. Many people seem confused or unsure of what certain terms mean like "Homeland Security" or "Emergency Management". So let's take a few days to review....

What is Homeland Security...

According to Wikipedia, "the term homeland security refers to a security effort by a government to protect a nation against perceived external or internal threat." Similarly, the National Strategy for Homeland Security defines Homeland Security as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur".

At the Federal level, there is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which monitors these issues and is responsible for preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters because it has oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Likewise, here in Johnson County the department responsible is called Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security. However, at the local level this office is not solely responsible for mitigation and response to terrorism, but does strongly focus on the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery related to all-hazards and emergencies that may impact the community (including terrorism). This office partners with many other county and regional agencies such as the Sheriff's Department, Health Department, Med-Act, and many others to ensure an overall concerted effort.

Next post: What is...Emergency Management?

2-1-1 Calling System

The United Way created and continues to support regionalized 2-1-1 systems that are aimed to help people find out information on community issues such as health concerns or areas to volunteer. According to the website, "2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember central phone number connecting people with available community resources and volunteer opportunities. You’ll reach a trained, caring professional 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. All for free, all confidential."

Local governments in the Kansas City Metro (including Johnson County) support it. So consider it next time you are in need of this type of service.

More Safe -- Sleep with the bedroom door open or closed?

I was asked today the following question: "Is it safer (for fire) to sleep with my bedroom door open or closed?"

Based on research I found on the internet you should always sleep with your bedroom door closed.  The closed door will delay the fire and smoke from entering your room and give you time to escape. It is also a good idea to keep a flashlight near your bed so you can find your way around.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Johnson Co. & Lenexa Working Together

Nearly 15 representatives from Lenexa's Fire and Police Departments were trained today on WebEOC. WebEOC is the incident management system used by Johnson County to prepare for and respond to disasters. We appreciate their partnership!

Fire Safety in the Holiday Season

The holiday season is an especially critical time for fire safety. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), heating and cooking are the leading causes of residential building fires. Heating fires occur more often in the winter months when the use of central heating systems, portable heaters, and fireplaces is most common. The numbers of cooking fires routinely start to increase around Thanksgiving and peak in December.

Johnson County encourage residents to use extra caution as they celebrate holiday season. Below are some tips for a safer holiday:

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Trees: Select a fresh tree, sticky to the touch with green needles. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If needles fall off, the tree is already dry and a fire hazard. Don't place tree near a heating vent or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Keep the tree stand filled with water. Alternatively, consider using a flame-retardant artificial tree.

Lights: Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Don't overload electrical outlets and don't link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Don't leave lights unattended.

Decorations: All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

For more information about personal preparedness in the holiday season visit www.jocoem.org or www.jocoprepared.org.

Resolve to be Ready in 2009

As 2008 is almost over, I thought it would be appropriate to share a new national campaign called "Resolve to be Ready in 2009". It suggests that since many citizens make resolutions at the beginning of the New Year to be resolved to change something in their life....why not your personal preparedness? Makes sense to me. As we always say, there are just three things you'd have to do (or check off your list) to be prepared. They are:

1) Make an Individual/Personal Emergency Plan (www.preparemetrokc.org/myplan).
2) Get an Emergency Supply Kit with three days of food and water (www.jocoprepared.org)
3) Stay Informed about emergency preparedness in Johnson County

Have a great weekend!

Are Earthquakes a Threat?

Some of you may have seen the Associated Press article that raises the question of increasing seismic activity along the New Madrid Earthquake fault in Arkansas. Many earthquake experts have long held that this region of the United States could one day be significantly impacted by an earthquake.

Johnson County is not significantly vulnerable to an earthquake in this region. However, emergency preparedness professionals here are well aware that many people in that region may be displaced due to an earthquake and may come to the Kansas City area to receive support and care. Consequently, Johnson County continually considers and prepares for this consideration as well as many other emergency management issues.

Monthly Siren Test -- December & January

Many of you may have wondered why the Outdoor Warning Sirens were not sounded yesterday since it was the first Wednesday of the month. Typically, the sirens would be tested then; however, they are not tested in December or January. This is explained well on the Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (www.jocoem.org) website as follows:

The outdoor warning system for Johnson County is tested at 11:00am on the first Wednesday of the month from February through November. No tests are conducted in December or January, or any other scheduled test date when extreme cold and/or heavy icing might damage the equipment. Tests are also cancelled whenever there is severe weather (or potential severe weather) occurring in the local area and activating the outdoor warning system might cause confusion as to whether the activation is real event.

Remember, the Outdoor Warning Siren system is just part of the county's emergency notification system. All citizens are strongly encouraged to purchase a NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio as well.

Great Website Resources

If you didn't know, the Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security webpage (www.jocoem.org) contains a plethora of planning and preparedness templates on a variety of topics including the following:

~Plans and Mitigation for Childcare Centers
~Crisis Planning for Schools and Communities
~Small Business Disaster Planning
~Adult Care Facilities
~Colleges and Universities

To access these templates, visit the above website and click on the "Emergency and Disaster Plans Template" (it is the picture of two people using a fire extinguisher). Please share this link with those who might benefit from it or send us links to additional templates that you think are interesting or beneficial for emergency preparedness.

Congressional Blue Ribbon Study on the Possibility of Bioterrorism

According to several publish articles like this one, http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/02/terror.report/index.html, the recently formed Congressional Blue Ribbon panel is predicting that by 2013 terrorist are likely to use a biological agent as a weapon of mass destruction.  I wanted to share this article for two reasons.  

First, the Johnson County Health Department (http://health.jocogov.org/emr/emerprep.shtml) has done a tremendous amount of work since 9/11 to ensure that the proper equipment, procedures, and personnel are in place to adequately respond to a bioterrorism type event.  Secondly, three years ago the media significantly covered the outbreak of H5N1 Avian Flu with a call that the next Pandemic Flu is on the way.  Bioterrorism and Pandemic Flu are two threats that Johnson County continually prepares for, but they are very different.  Bioterrorism would be the intentional modification and distribution of a biological agent, while Pandemic Flu is a natural mutation in the seasonal flu that causes significant sickness (and sometimes death).

You, as a citizen, can prepare for both by continually staying informed to local government and trusted sources.

Web 2.0 Technologies, Part II

I posted right before Thanksgiving about the possibility of using Web 2.0 technologies (such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace) to better inform the public. Several of you commented and wanted to know more about what we had in mind and what exactly thiese systems did. According to Wikipedia:

"The term "Web 2.0" describes the changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aim to enhance creativity, communications, secure information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web. Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web culture communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, video sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies. Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but rather to changes in the ways software developers and end-users utilize the Web."

Johnson County is looking for ways to use these technologies to better communicate with the public (both during emergencies and non-emergencies), create a culture of preparedness, and diversify when, why, and how we communicate. This blog is our first significant attempt in this arena.

Keep sharing your ideas and thoughts about how we might better use these technologies!