County Proclaims September as National Preparedness Month

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month 2009 at a ceremony this morning. Nick Crossley, Director of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, received the proclamation from Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh. Johnson County has several different programs related to National Preparedness Month 2009. These programs are designed to encourage and promote the preparedness of individual businesses, vulnerable community organizations, and individual citizens. Information about these programs can be found at the Johnson County National Preparedness Month website.

The video of this event can be found here or at the Johnson County Youtube Channel.

Fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Johnson County Environmental and the City of Olathe are sponsoring Fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events on Saturday, October 10. The Johnson County HHW Facility also will be accepting electronics for recycling.
Appointments are required only at Johnson County Environmental for hazardous waste and electronic recycling. These can be made by calling 913-715-6900 or online at the Johnson County Environmental Department website.

The removal of household hazardous waste is one of the many successful mitigation strategies employed as part of Johnson County's overall emergency preparedness program. This type of effort continues to make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared!

New Safer Ambulance in Johnson County

County emergency crews recently christened an ambulance that includes innovative safety features both inside and out designed to prevent injuries among medical personnel as well as the public. The vehicle, based at Overland Park Fire Station on 95th Street, is the first of its kind in the state and one of the first like it in the nation. But it also is to be the first of many like it locally, because the design will be followed as new ambulances are purchased.

When the unit hit the streets, it culminated a process started three years ago. That was when members of Johnson County Med-Act ambulance service, the Overland Park Fire Department and an engineer with Overland Park’s Public Works Department began studying how to build a safer ambulance.

Among the major new features is a safety harness for paramedics and better ways of securing all the equipment stored and used in the vehicle. Moreover, the single piece of equipment that gets the most use by the crews is a high-tech pack that contains EKG monitoring and blood pressure testing apparatus, a defibrillator and more. Unfortunately, it's very large. That pack was not always well-secured in the past, but now, before the ambulance rolls (in an accident), the lead paramedic fastens it into a cradle.

This kind of innovative thinking and preparedness is what continues to make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared.

NWS StormReady Program Review

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security hosted several NWS personnel as well as three local emergency managers to review Johnson County's application for the StormReady program. StormReady is a program sponsored by the National Weather Service to create a standard for preparedness for all communities to prepared for weather events. StormReady communities are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness.

The evaluation was successful in renewing Johnson County's status as a StormReady community. Look for more pictures and information to come!

Award Winning Video

NACIO awarded Johnson County Public Health and Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security a Meritorious Award for this video, which ran in local movie theaters to improve citizen awareness about emergency preparedness. This video is also now posted at the Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security YouTube channel.

Severe Weather Tabletop Exercise for Churches & Faith Centers

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, in conjunction with National Preparedness Month, is offering a free Severe Weather Tabletop Exercise for Churches and Faith Centers on September 24th at the Johnson County Conference Center. The session will last from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and will provide local church leaders information about severe weather events and allow local churches to test their emergency plans for severe weather events such as a tornado or high wind event. There will also be interactive opportunities to engage representatives from other churches in the community on operational practices that will help mitigate these hazards.

More information about this event, including registration can be found by clicking here. Please spread the word!

School Preparedness Essay Competition

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security is sponsor the first ever National Preparedness Month Essay Competition for local students. Specifically, students are asked the question: "Why is Emergency Preparedness important in Johnson County?". Essays will be received in two classifications; Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Awards will be given!

For more information, visit www.jocoem.org or the Essay Competition website.

JCCC Prepares for the H1N1 Pandemic Flu Strain

Johnson County Community College invited emergency preparedness personnel from Johnson County Public Health Department and Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security to a staff/employee in-service yesterday to discuss planning related to the H1N1 pandemic flu strain.

Staff has lots of good questions about what to expect and how to prepare for this upcoming flu season. They were reminded that there are three easy steps to always reduce the spread of viruses and germs. They are:

1) Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water
2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
3) Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue and properly dispose of the used tissue

Let's all be prepared together to reduce the spread in Johnson County!

Pandemic Flu -- Got Questions?

Johnson County Health Department and many other supporting County departments and agencies are preparing for the upcoming flu season. This year presents a potential additional challenge considering the presence of the H1N1 pandemic flu strain. There are several websites that contain excellent information, but we know many of you still have questions.

We encourage you to consider posting questions here so other people can join in on the conversation. Please join us as we continue to seek out ways to make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared!

Thanks to CVS Caremark

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security would like to thank CVS Caremark for the invitation to come speak to them about their severe weather preparedness activities. Dan Robeson, Assistant Director of Planning, visited with their management team yesterday. This kind of community partnership is what will truly make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared!

Hannes Zacharias Named New County Manager

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners today appointed Deputy Johnson County Manager Hannes Zacharias as the new county manager for Johnson County Government. His new duties become effective Sept. 1, 2009. He succeeds Michael B. Press, who retired May 29, 2009. Zacharias joined Johnson County as assistant county manager in 2001, and has served as deputy county manager since January 2005.

Mr. Zacharias is a huge supporter of emergency preparedness and homeland security issues in Johnson County and the entire Kansas City Metro. For many years he has served as the Co-Chair of the Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee.

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security would like to congratulate Mr. Zacharias. We look forward to continuing to work with him to make Johnson County -- A Community Prepared!