Emergency Management & Homeland Security -- A Decade in Review

Emergency Management has been around in one form or another for nearly fifty years. Although Emergency Management focuses on preparing for, responding to, recovery from, and mitigating all-hazards within a given community, the original concept was based in the form of Civil Defense against the possibility of nuclear fallout. While this change from Civil Defense to Emergency Management was significant, so were the events of September 11, 2001, which ushered in the era (and need) for Homeland Security.

This drastic change altered the way many Americans live their lives and their perspective on the world. Much like citizens throughout the United States, Emergency Management professionals have had to adjust to the changes necessary to preserve the safety and security of our citizens from the threat of terrorism. By the middle of this decade, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security embraced this new preparedness within our name to indicate our readiness to include terrorism within our all-hazards philosophy. As we move forward, we know we will continue to face threats and challenges (as seen this week on the Detroit-bound flight), but will ultimately persevere as we continue our relationship with our citizens to ensure Johnson is a Community Prepared!

Unfortunately, the events of September 11, 2001, were not the only major event that impacted Emergency Management during this decade. Nearly four years after that event, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast and caused destruction in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This event brought significant attention to the need to continue to work with special needs and at-risk populations within any given community to ensure they are prepared for emergencies and disasters. Johnson County has and will continue to seek out ways to improve the preparedness of our special needs populations for all types of hazards. Lastly, during this event, Johnson County was able to send numerous individuals down to the impacted area to provide support for infrastructure, law enforcement, emergency services, and many others.

Lastly, in 2007, the small town of Greensburg, Kansas, was impacted by a devastating tornado that ultimately lead to the destruction of the vast majority of the town. When the town needed assistance, Johnson County (as well as many other communities) were able to again provide significant support to help restore their community. After several years of recovery, Greensburg has now become a national model of rebuilding green to create a truly sustainable community.

This decade will long be remembered for the rise of Homeland Security and the sheer destruction of some of the natural disasters that occurred. Unfortunately, natural disasters are unavoidable. Every community, including Johnson County, is faced with many hazards--both natural and manmade--that someday may require response and recovery. Until that day, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security will continue its mission of ensuring the County is as ready as it can be to respond, recovery, and mitigate any emergency or disaster that may impact us.

As we start the second decade of the twenty-first century, let us all consider making a commitment to becoming more personally prepared for emergencies and volunteering for one of the many emergency services groups supporting Johnson County.

Let us move in to 2010 ready to be ready and prepared to be prepared!

Emergency Text Notification

Do you want emergency public information (ex: weather conditions) about Johnson County sent to your phone via text? Follow us through @JOCOAlert on Twitter to do just that!

For more information visit our website.

Hey Teachers! Check Out These Preparedness Activities for Kids

The State of Florida has developed a tremendous educational tool for children of all ages. There are games, books, podcasts, downloads, activities, and more on a variety of issues that will prepare them for emergencies and disasters. This site called "Kids Get a Plan" is well worth the visit.

http://www.kidsgetaplan.com/Homepage.php

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security also maintains a list of exciting and engaging links for kids and teachers on our website. Simply click here.

12 Days of Preparedness -- Day 3 (Food and Water)

In honor of the "12 Days of Preparedness" video that we recently posted, we wanted to celebrate those 12 days with you in greater details. So...

Preparedness Day 3:

Personal and family preparedness is a critical part of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security's strategy for community preparedness. The three basic steps to personal preparedness are: 1) Have a Plan, 2) Make a Kit, and 3) Stay Informed. The first step (Have a Plan) is a collection of critical information including emergency numbers, fire exits, reunification points, etc. Individuals in the Kansas City area can visit www.preparemetrokc.org to utilize the "MyPlan" feature available there. The second step (Make a Kit) talks about the necessary food and water families need to be prepared. Specifically, we recommend that individuals and families have three days of food and water to be prepared. Lastly, the third step of personal preparedness is staying informed. That includes staying informed about current weather conditions (news coverage, weather radios, this blog!), threats, and conditions to consider.

See you Preparedness Day 4! Happy (and safe) Holidays from Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security

12 Days of Preparedness -- Day 2 (Weather Radios)

In honor of the "12 Days of Preparedness" video that we recently posted, we wanted to celebrate those 12 days with you in greater details. So...

Preparedness Day 2:

Weather radios are a critical part of Johnson County's comprehensive warning strategy. Along with outdoor warning sirens, NOAA All-Hazard Weather radios give you critical information about weather conditions that are present in your area. Specifically, it will tell you about watches, warnings, and advisories throughout the year. This is particularly important during severe weather season to receive information as quickly as possible so you and your family can move to shelter.

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security supports Project Community Alert (PCA) which is a community-wide effort to distribute weather alert radios at the low cost of $29.95 through local PriceChopper stores. Remember, there's still time to purchase a weather radio as a holiday gift!

See you Preparedness Day 3! Happy (and safe) Holidays from Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

12 Days of Preparedness -- Lyrics

On the first day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
A siren in my neighborhood

On the second day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the third day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the fourth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood


On the fifth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the sixth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the seventh day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the eighth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Eight Bottles of Sanitizer
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the ninth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Nine Fire Extinguishers
Eight Bottles of Sanitizer
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the tenth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Ten Emergency Numbers
Nine Fire Extinguishers
Eight Bottles of Sanitizer
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the eleventh day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Rolls of Duct Tape

(That’s for Sheltering-in-Place)
Ten Emergency Numbers
Nine Fire Extinguishers
Eight Bottles of Sanitizer
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood

On the twelfth day of Preparedness
my true love sent to me:
Twelve Diapers for the Baby
Eleven Rolls of Duct Tape

(That’s for Sheltering-in-Place)
Ten Emergency Numbers
Nine Fire Extinguishers
Eight Bottles of Sanitizer
Seven Signs of Severe Weather
Six extra blankets
Five Smoke Detectors!
Four batteries for my flashlight
Three Days of Food and Water
Two weather radios
and a siren in my neighborhood.

12 Days of Preparedness -- Day 1 (A Siren in My Neighborhood)

In honor of the "12 Days of Preparedness" video that we recently posted, we wanted to celebrate those 12 days with you in greater details. So...

Preparedness Day 1:

Outdoor warning sirens are a common place in the Midwest, particularly in Johnson County (KS). Did you know that we have over 175 sirens placed strategically throughout the County to alert citizens if the threat of a tornado is near? In Johnson County, these sirens are only sounded if the County has been placed under a tornado watch by the National Weather Service or if a tornado is spotted by trained weather spotters or by a law enforcement official. Moreover, there is not an "All Clear" signal which is why we strongly encourage you to get a NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio.

We also make every attempt to keep our website as up-to-date as possible about pending weather conditions as well as the testing of the outdoor warning sirens. Typically, the sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 11 AM. However, in December and January they are not tested because testing in severe cold can cause significant damage to the sirens. If you'd like to know where sirens are related to your residence, visit here.

See you Preparedness Day 2! Happy (and safe) Holidays from Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

Know Your Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a winter storm hazard:

Freezing Rain
Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees, and power lines.

Sleet
Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

Winter Storm Watch
A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for more information.

Winter Storm Warning
A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.

Blizzard Warning
Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

Frost/Freeze Warning
Below freezing temperatures are expected.

ICE -- Are you Cold or Prepared?

ICE. When you see that term - what do you think? In winter you are subject to think of conditions related to cold winter weather. That is fair, but ICE can also mean -- In Case of Emergency (I.C.E).

I.C.E. is an important designation for friends, family, and loved-ones who are your primary contact during an emergency. If you are in an emergency and cannot speak or act for yourself, having an I.C.E. designation will help emergency responders and/or good samaritans know who to contact.

The ICE designation is especially easy to do on cell phones. You should simply add "ICE" to the end of the contact name. So instead of "Mom", simply write "Mom - ICE".

Even though ICE may be cold, it's a great way to stay prepared year round.

Need Holiday Gift Ideas...Here's a Few!

Along with FEMA's help we have assembled a list of gift ideas for the holidays to help keep your family and friends prepared. Emergencies can happen at any moment; these gifts can serve as a great starting point to ensure that your friends and family have an emergency communications plan, a disaster supply kit, and stay informed about emergencies in their area.

The most important thing any individual can do is take a few minutes to discuss with their family, friends and loved ones what they will do in the case of an emergency or disaster. This includes developing a simple family communications plan and identifying how you would get in touch with loved ones and where you might meet if you are separated when an emergency or disaster takes place.

Additionally, there are simple supplies that can go a long way in the case of an emergency or disaster that would make great gifts this holiday season.

A list of possible gifts that may assist in disasters includes:

• Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits; food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours; i.e., extra clothing, blankets, and flashlights).
• NOAA weather radios with extra batteries.
• Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
• Smoke detectors.
• Fire extinguishers (for kitchen, garage, car, etc.)
• Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
• Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
• Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
• Battery powered lamps

This year, consider at least one of these ideas. You just may save the life of a friend or family member. For more information and preparedness tips, please visit www.preparemetrokc.org and www.jocoem.org.

Winter Weather Update

The current winter weather condition is threatening to impact portions or all of the greater Kansas City area with snow, wind, and extremely cold temperatures over the next few days. Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security will provide as much information as we can through our website, twitter, facebook, and youtube sites as well as this blog.

For additional information, visit the National Weather Service website that serves the greater Kansas City area. They currently have an interactive update about the current weather situation.

Resolved to Be Ready in 2010

This year is almost over and its time to start thinking about how to be more prepared in 2010.

Preparedness planning for emergency situations should be an evolving project for you and your family. Routine evaluation of the steps you have taken to prepare your family will help strengthen your planning, and keep your family safe. You can prepare your family for emergency situations by evaluating the different incidents that could occur, as well as appropriate emergency responses. Keep in mind, you may not be home when an emergency occurs, but your children might.

To utilize your preparedness planning:

• Make a preparedness checklist for your babysitter. Discuss how to various disaster situations, such as fire safety or severe weather.
• Help your older children become safe sitters Red Cross Babysitter Training Course and Babysitter Resources.
• Conduct a home-hazard hunt to avoid injury and damage from ordinary items in the home. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
• Consider the many preparedness tips listed at www.jocoem.org or www.preparemetrokc.org.

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security wishes you a safe, happy, and prepared holiday season.

Ten Balloons -- Help Us Find Them!

DARPA (a federal agency charged with the development of new innovative technologies) is sponsoring the DARPA Network Challenge, which is a prize competition for exploring the roles the internet and social media play in real-time communications, wide-area collaborations, and practical actions required to solve broad-scope, time-critical problems. Specifically, this Saturday (December 5th), ten large red weather balloons will be moored throughout the United States along non-disclosed roadways.



The first team to identify all ten locations will be awarded a prize of $40,000. Because Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security values the importance and engagement of social media and wide-area collaboration, we have partnered with emergency management offices throughout the Country (Washington, Texas, etc.). If we win, we are going to divide the money to support various emergency preparedness efforts in those areas!

But to win...we need you! Keep your eyes peeled this weekend for any red balloons. If you see one let us know the cross streets where you saw them. We'll take care of the rest! You can post the location to any of our various social media sites, but we've also created a new Facebook page to collect all the locations!

This is an easy way to help prepare communities across America to be better prepared for emergencies and disasters! Reach out and connect!