Public Safety Education

Installation of 289 car seats

33 CPR classes

211 Participants

The Southlake Fire Department offers a variety of public education events to build community relationships and share departmental safety education initiatives.

With restrictions lifted, 2022 was a regular public education year, with everything back to normal. As in past years, the most popular safety education initiatives were CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, Child Passenger Safety, and visits to local schools and daycares. In addition to the initiatives already mentioned, the department taught first aid classes, Stop the Bleed, and Babysitter training, held a Fire and Police Citizens Academy for both youth and adults, assisted with fire drills, taught kitchen safety in the schools, station tours, and balance classes for our senior population.

The department hosted several community events, including It Takes a Village, Splash Story Time, and our most popular event, Trunk or Treat. The Trunk or Treat event has grown over the years. This year, a record number of city departments, businesses, and civic organizations participated. The event also gives those who need community service hours a chance to volunteer. Learn about the new It Takes a Village event under 2022 Notable Achievements. Our annual toy and food drive held at all the stations within the city had a record year for collections. This initiative provides toys and food to those

10 Fire Extinguisher classes

294 Participants less fortunate during the holiday season. Our number of community partners increased this year, and we were able to help a record number of children. This event brings the community together by working together to serve others.

We want to ensure that the department encourages residents to dispose of waste responsibly! The increases in cost to dispose of waste have increased exponentially. However, we are still able to provide these services to residents. Our department holds one big event tagged as the Crud Cruiser. We collect household hazardous and electronic waste during the event, allowing residents to shred sensitive documents. To reduce the crowd at the Crud Cruiser, we held two pre-game events at Station 1 and were able to collect electronics and paper. The pre-games worked well in past years, and pre-game events will be in the Spring of 2023 to reduce crowds at the large event on June 17th.

As in past years, the department will continue to promote our safety education initiatives and produce innovative ideas to maintain relationships and prevent injuries through safety education. Life preservation through public education.

Continuity of Operations Exercises

Throughout 2022, the Office of Emergency Management conducted ten tabletop exercises on Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) to ensure that each City department can perform essential functions needed to keep the City operational during an emergency or disaster. These plans not only look at the tasks but the personnel and the equipment necessary to continue to carry out operations.

After conducting exercises, any operational changes to the plan are made, any outdated information is updated, and the plan is revised for the upcoming year.

The City learned how important COOP plans are over the last 2 years, as they have been implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Winter Storm Uri.

Public Outreach and Education

The Office of Emergency Management conducted over 20 hours of community education with over 516 residents and community members in attendance. Events ranged from winter weather safety briefs to boy scout meetings, book readings at schools, and a special needs preparedness and resource fair. The Office of Emergency Management passes out preparedness information to assist citizens in the steps they take to ensure they are safe before, during, and after an emergency or natural disaster, with the goal of a secure and resilient community.

Vector Control

Every year from April-November, The City of Southlake’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) conducts vector surveillance and submits weekly mosquito samples to the Tarrant County Public Health Lab to test for West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus. These samples are collected by placing mosquito traps every Thursday morning between 7-9 am and then collecting set traps 24 hours later. This year, OEM set at least five, sometimes six traps every week, depending on mosquito reports/complaints. In 2022, 141 traps were set. Of those 141 traps, zero tested positive for West Nile Virus and zero tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis. OEM received 16 mosquito complaints from citizens concerning high mosquito activity and standing water issues. The OEM responded by surveying the areas, treating them with larvicide if needed, and setting extra mosquito traps to determine mosquito activity. As a mitigation measure, OEM acquired gambusia fish from Tarrant County Public Health lab, placing them in Carillon Pond, off North Carroll Ave.