After significant research done by the American Red Cross, national emergency management professionals in conjunction with the National Weather Service have agreed to update the tornado safety rules for what to do when you are in your vehicle. Traditionally, people have been encouraged to leave their vehicles and get into a ditch.
However, the new rule stresses that if you are in a vehicle and can drive away (the opposite direction) to do it! If you are unable to drive away (ex: divided highways), get into a sturdy shelter (building). As a last resort, you should pull your car over to the side of the road, keep your seatbelt on, and place your head below the windows in your car until the tornado has passed. If these are not options, only then would you exit your car and get into a ditch.
These are new rules. Help us spread the word! For all tornado safety rules, click here or visit www.jocoem.org..
Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security was recently notified of a new award to recognize local citizens who go above and beyond to protect local communities.
The American spirit is steeped in an appreciation for individual contribution and the guiding principle of helping others. FEMA would like to recognize individuals who have made a difference in making their community safer and better prepared. These are people who have given their time and energy, offered skills and capabilities, been leaders in providing education and training, responded to crises and disasters, or simply made a call when they saw something suspicious. As a result, they have saved lives, property, or positively impacted their communities. These are the individuals we wish to highlight and celebrate.
By August 15, 2010 please send FEMA stories about individuals who have made a difference in their community. Send them your stories by email, in a format that is best for you, to citizencorps@dhs.gov with "Outstanding Individual" in the subject line.
We are positive that Johnson County has individuals just like this. Help us find them and get them recognized!
U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary’s (DHS) launched the first phase of DHS' nationwide "See Something, Say Something" campaign and announced a new national information-sharing partnership with Amtrak as part of the Department's Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative during a whistlestop train tour—highlighting the public's role in keeping our country safe and the government's commitment to bolstering transportation security.
"Implementing a national suspicious activity reporting partnership with Amtrak and expanding the 'See Something, Say Something' campaign strengthens our ability to guard against terrorism and crime," said DHS Secretary Napolitano. "These initiatives enable us to provide frontline security personnel with the latest information and intelligence to recognize behaviors and indicators associated with new and evolving threats."
In the coming months, DHS will expand the "See Something, Say Something" campaign nationally with public education materials, advertisements and other outreach tools to continue engaging travelers, businesses, community organizations, and public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping our country safe.
For more information about the "See Something, Say Something" campaign and other DHS initiatives, click here.
