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Thursday, April 21, 2011 Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Emergency Management Preparedness For All Hazards provided by: Cleburne County EMA Emergency Management Preparedness For All Hazards Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
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(Having the ability to respond before, during and after a serious emergency.)
CSEPP Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
Hazards that could possibly affect your community Be Prepared All Ways
The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) is a joint venture between the U.S. Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state and local governments to improve emergency planning and preparedness in communities near the eight chemical weapons storage sites in the U.S. Alabama’s CSEP Program includes federal, state and local agencies, the private sector and volunteers. Since the early 1960s, the Army safely stored approximately seven percent of the nation’s original chemical weapons stockpile at Anniston Army Depot. The chemical weapons originally stored at the depot consisted of various munitions and chemical agents, containing GB or VX nerve agents or HD blister agent. In 1986, Congress mandated that chemical munitions stored at the depot and seven other sites be destroyed. In August 2003, the Army began disposing of chemical weapons at the Anniston Chemical Activity Disposal Facility. In March 2006, Anniston completed destruction of GB nerve agent followed by the completion of VX agent munitions in December 2008. Destruction of the remaining munitions is expected to be completed in September 2011. As part of CSEPP, Congress mandated
maximum protection for the public, the environment and workers involved in destroying the chemical munitions. Federal funding is being provided to communities that surround the storage sites to upgrade emergency capabilities. In Cleburne County, CSEPP funding has been used to improve the local emergency alert system, provide training and equipment for first responders, enhance school safety and educate the public about emergency preparedness. Emergency planning and response has been made possible through CSEPP, but it can be used for any emergency that impacts Cleburne County. As the CSEP Program ends with the completion of the destruction of chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot, Cleburne County faces the challenge of maintaining its level of emergency preparedness without federal funding from CSEPP. Since federal funding will no longer be available to maintain many of the resources provided by CSEPP, FEMA requires county officials to create and implement a plan for those resources. Some resources will be transferred from EMA to other local agencies. Some resources will no longer be available if other agencies cannot assume responsibility for them.
Thunderstorm & Lightning Tornado Flood Heat Wave & Fire Flu & Virus Chemical Accident
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us Paid for by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
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Cleburne News
Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
EOC
Emergency Operations Center
Cleburne County Emergency Management Agency Cross, Alabama National Guard, Cleburne Department of (EMA) was founded in 1974. The newly-formed agency, lo- Human Resources along with other agencies involved in cated in an office adjoining the county’s Public Works Barn, the response and recovery. had the same basic mission as it does today.
Through a partnership with CSEPP, Jacksonville State
“EMA evolved out of the civil defense initiative. Plan- University (JSU) and Forte Power Systems, Cleburne ning, mitigation, training, coordinating, exercising, train- County is building a new facility which will include an ing, responding and recovering from emergencies was the EOC along with offices for EMA, 9-1-1 and county adminismission,” said Steve Swafford, Cleburne County EMA Di- tration and classrooms for JSU. While the new facility will rector and County Administrator. “In the 1970s, the mis- be a multi-use resource for Cleburne County, the state of sion was focused on the possibility of a nuclear or conven- the art EOC will improve the county’s emergency response tional attack by the Soviet Union.”
and recovery capabilities. The upgraded EOC will be built
As times changed, Alabama’s CSEP Program took cen- to be storm-resistant. ter stage. The counties surrounding the Anniston Army
Over the past year, flooding, snow and ice, tornadoes
Depot began preparing their communities and first re- and other severe weather have affected Cleburne County. sponders for the possibility of a chemical weapons accident The storm-resistant EOC will help keep first responders at the depot’s incineration facility. CSEPP funds allowed safe and provide new resources while they coordinate local Cleburne EMA to move into its current facility located be- response and recovery efforts during an emergency. tween Heflin and Edwardsville. The current facility houses
“When a deadly tornado struck Tuscaloosa in April, it
EMA and 9-1-1 offices as well as the county’s emergency not only devastated their community it also struck a blow operations center (EOC).
to their response and recovery capabilities by destroying
When the EOC is activated, representatives from local their emergency operations center.” Swafford said. “With law enforcement, medical services and fire departments Cleburne’s new EOC, our emergency response agencies use the EOC to coordinate their emergency response ef- will have a safe place to coordinate resources and activiforts. They are joined by representatives from the local ties to take care of our residents before, during and after a school system, public health department, American Red disaster.”
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Page 3 Cleburne News
Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
Sirens Cleburne County residents have grown accustomed to the familiar wail of outdoor warning sirens. The end of Alabama’s Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) also will bring an end to federal funding for the sirens. Since 1996 a network of sirens has expanded across Cleburne County through CSEP Program and mitigation funds. The CSEPP-funded sirens, located in western portions of the county, were primarily intended to alert residents if a chemical weapons accident occurred at Anniston Army Depot. The incineration of the chemical stockpile in Anniston is expected to be complete in September 2011. As the CSEP Program ends, federal funding for sirens will end too. Local CSEP Program resources, including the outdoor warning sirens, were implemented by the Cleburne County Commission through the federal program. Without the federal funding, the County Commission cannot continue to pay for the upkeep of the sirens. Cities and communities in the county will have to decide whether or not to maintain the sirens. “The County Commission is not aware of any avail-
able federal funds to replace CSEPP. Since the sirens were purchased and maintained through CSEPP, we have to follow the program guidelines and remove the sirens unless an organization or jurisdiction assumes responsibility,” said Steve Swafford, Cleburne County Administrator. Other sirens in the county were purchased with mitigation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and funding from cities or local fire departments. In the past, Cleburne
EMA (EMA) assisted with maintenance of those sirens. With the end of CSEPP, the county EMA no longer has the resources to provide that assistance. “Cities, communities and fire departments have to make a decision soon,” said Swafford, who also serves as Cleburne County EMA Director. “They must decide if they want the sirens and are willing to pay for their upkeep. If not, the sirens will have to be taken down.” If sirens are removed, they will be kept for spare parts for the remaining sirens. Cleburne EMA will maintain the equipment necessary to activate the sirens for tests and emergency notifications. Swafford pointed out that more than 90 percent of homes in Cleburne County have received a free emergency alert radio. While the outdoor warning sirens are meant only to alert people who are outdoors, the new radios provide an indoor alert potentially to every physical address in the county. “We began the distribution of emergency alert radios in 2009 as part of our plan for the end of CSEPP. After the radio distribution program ends, the radios will continue to provide alerts without any support from the county,” Swafford added.
EAS – Emergency Alert System Sirens
Emergency Alert Radios
Outdoor warning sirens are meant to provide alerts to people who are outdoors only. Do not rely on sirens to alert you when you are indoors.
Since 2009, more than 6,650 Emergency Alert Radios (EARs) have been distributed to homes, schools, churches, businesses and other locations throughout Cleburne County. EARs are indoor alert devices which receive a wide range of emergency alerts through the NOAA National Weather Service All Hazards network of transmitters.
Sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. unless there is a threat of severe weather. Sirens are activated for severe thunderstorm watches and warnings between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. Severe thunderstorms can create hazardous conditions such as lightning, flash flooding, heavy rains, high winds and hail.
Tone Alert Radios Tone Alert Radios (TARs) were distributed to residents who registered with the CSEPP Special Needs Population Program. TARs provided an indoor alert to people who might require more time to take protective actions during an emergency. TARs also were distributed to schools, churches and other public places. TARs were part of a specialized network funded through the CSEP Program. Service for TARs in Cleburne County ended in 2009 and they will no longer receive alerts.
Your EAR should be programmed to receive alerts for Cleburne County. The county code is 001029. A limited number of EARs are still available. Contact Cleburne EMA at 256.463.7130 for more information.
Emergency Alert System Radio and TV Stations Before, during and after an emergency, you should tune to a local Emergency Alert System Station. Radio Stations Television Stations WTDR FM 92.7 WJSU ABC 33/40 WVOK FM 97.9 WBRC FOX 6 WJCK FM 88.3 WVTM NBC 13 WKNG FM 89.1 WIAT CBS 42
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Cleburne News
Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
Training and Exercises Mention the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department and you may think of deputies on patrol, law enforcement or the county jail. But the department also plays an important role in supporting other emergency response agencies. Through the CSEP Program, Cleburne EMA coordinates opportunities for local emergency responders to work together in training and exercises. “Deputies secure the scene, control traffic and act as our ‘eyes and ears’ during an emergency response. That allows us to focus on our work at hand, whether it’s fighting fire or extricating a victim from a wrecked vehicle,” said Dan Hopkins, Chief of Hollis Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). We couldn’t do an effective job without their support.” “It’s important to develop a relationship with other emergency responders,” said Sheriff Joe Jacks. “Training and exercises help us learn to work together before an actual disaster happens. When a real emergency occurs, we’re better prepared to support other agencies and protect the public.” With assistance from the Sheriff’s Department, Hollis VFD undertook an extensive exercise on a Sunday afternoon. All roads in the VFD’s jurisdiction were ‘closed’ with traffic control points while fire department volunteers and deputies practiced providing assistance to people who were relocating due to a CSEPP event in Calhoun County. “We had volunteers who would come through our reception points with questions and problems that were designed to test our emergency responders. Potentially we could have thousands of people come through our district if a major disaster struck in a neighboring county. They might need something minor or it could be vital. Either way, we have to be prepared to help them.” Cleburne County law enforcement, fire departments and other agencies have participated in an annual regional CSEPP exercise. While a chemical weap-
Dan Hopkins, Chief of Hollis Crossroads VFD
ons accident at Anniston Army Depot would no longer impact the county, the effects on communities closest to the depot could affect Cleburne County. Responders use the experiences from CSEPP in other emergencies. “Working with EMA, we set up a scenario with a school bus accident. We used live ‘victims’ and children to practice the extrication. Handling a real child in that situation ensures that you won’t forget what you’ve learned,” said Hopkins. “We were practicing for a traffic accident related to a CSEPP event, but now the fire department and deputies have those skills ready to use in any situation.”
Sheriff Joe Jacks
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Page 5 Cleburne News
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Preparedness Survey Results In early 2011, an online survey was conducted to assess emergency preparedness among residents in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair and Talladega counties – Alabama’s CSEPP community. The annual survey attempts to measure the effectiveness of public outreach activities, knowledge of protective actions and level of preparedness in the six counties. Cleburne County’s scores rank among the highest in the survey. Cleburne County residents continued to be leaders in their awareness and practice of emergency preparedness. Eighty percent of Cleburne survey participants knew that the destruction of chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot is almost complete. Only Calhoun County, where the Depot is located scored higher. Fifty-six percent of Cleburne participants knew that their community was no longer
at risk from chemical weapons destruction which was the highest score in the six-county area. Ninety-four percent of county participants know they should plan for natural and manmade hazards. Sixty-six percent reported they had created a family emergency preparedness plan which was an increase from sixty-three percent in 2009. Cleburne County was the leader in both categories in Alabama’s CSEPP area. Nationwide, only 40 percent of individuals are aware that a natural disaster could affect their community, according to a Citizen Corps study. Cleburne residents are paying attention to the local public information campaigns. Eighty-nine percent reported they had received information from Cleburne EMA which was up from 63 percent in 2009. Ninety-two percent said
they are confident of receiving a quick notification of emergencies. Only Etowah County scored as well in the notification category. Throughout the year, emergency preparedness materials such as calendars, newsletters and booklets are mailed to homes and businesses throughout the county. Publications also are available at the county courthouse, city halls and other public places. Free resources are available online at www.cleburnecounty.us. In Cleburne County, 93 percent of survey participants have received free emergency alert radios but only 89 percent said their radio was programmed to receive alerts for Cleburne County. Programming assistance and a limited number of radios are available from Cleburne EMA. Call 256.463.7130 for more information.
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Cleburne News
Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
School Outreach
Cleburne EMA’s public outreach efforts have often targeted the county’s youngest residents. Through partnerships with the local school system and other organizations who work with children, EMA provides information and resources about emergency preparedness for children. “Educating children serves a two-fold purpose. When you introduce planning for emergencies to a child, they will go home and talk to their parents and other family members about what they’ve learned. The child will ask if their home has resources like a disaster supply kit or smoke detectors. They will encourage their family to be better prepared. That helps create a safer home and community now,” said Steve Swafford, Cleburne County Administrator. “By teaching children that preparedness should be part of their daily routine, they will grow up to be safety-conscious adults. They can help us build a stronger community for the future.” Through CSEPP funding, Cleburne EMA has provided resources such as the American Red Cross Masters of Disaster curriculum. The Red Cross program offers tools to help teachers include emergency preparedness in their classroom activities. Age-appropriate publications have been distributed to county schools and other organizations. To support county fire departments’ efforts in local schools, Cleburne EMA purchased a mobile education unit (MEU) with CSEPP funds. The MEU is designed to feel like a home so children can learn to escape from a house fire. Along with fire safety, children are taught severe weath-
er safety and how to call 9-1-1 for help from emergency responders. “When children can actually practice the steps while we are talking about fire safety, it makes more sense to them. In the MEU, a smoke detector sounds an alarm and then ‘smoke’ starts filling the rooms. The fireman will walk them through the steps of how to get outdoors safely,” said Patrick Nolen, chief of Turkey Heaven Volunteer Fire Department. “During the presentation, children can call 9-1-1. There’s a fireman in a hidden room in the MEU acting as the dispatcher. Children should know when and how to call for emergency help. “By training children, we are empowering them to, not only help their family create emergency plans, but they also can help in their family’s response to an emergency,” Nolen added. As part of the county’s CSEPP Closeout Plan, the MEU has been transferred to the Cleburne County Fire Prevention Association. Volunteer fire departments in the central and southern communities in Cleburne County assumed responsibility for the MEU to ensure its use in their local schools. Learning opportunities also have been available to older students through CSEPP. In 2011, Cleburne County Career Technical School partnered with EMA to offer American Red Cross training to students in their Health Sciences program. Students from Ranburne and Cleburne County high schools completed the Red Cross program.
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Page 7 Cleburne News
Emergency Preparedness For All Hazards
Resources for Other Agencies Through the CSEP Program and federal agencies, Cleburne EMA has secured funding to provide resources for local organizations to create safer, better-prepared communities. A few examples include: • Cleburne EMA partnered with the American Red Cross and local agencies such as the Department of Human Resources, Public Health Department and the Baptist Association to create a Reception and Mass Care Plan. Shelter locations and resources have been identified and local volunteers received training to prepare for disasters that might affect Cleburne and surrounding counties. • Emergency preparedness plays a vital role in the Cleburne County School System’s day-to-day operations. Whether it’s severe weather or a manmade disaster, student safety is its top priority. School officials work with Cleburne EMA, local law enforcement and fire departments to plan for different types of risks that could affect county schools. Cleburne EMA identifies opportunities to enhance school safety such as:
– Installing two-way radios on county school buses to allow drivers to stay in contact with the central education office, schools and emergency responders – Participating in exercises to evaluate school safety plans to shelter in place or evacuate during emergencies – Providing emergency alert radios for school offices, gyms, field houses and other school facilities – Securing more than $6,000 in federal funding to purchase medical supplies and equipment. Bandages, cots, gauze, gloves, disinfectants and splints were among the supplies that could be essential during a large scale emergency but can also be used for daily care of students. To support Cleburne County Emergency Medical Services mission of providing life-saving care throughout the county, Cleburne EMA secured more than $45,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to equipment county ambulances with heart monitors.
Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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Page 8 Cleburne News
“Through the resources provided by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, public safety and emergency response capabilities in Cleburne County have been greatly enhanced. Our Partners in Preparedness include law enforcement departments, volunteer fire departments, emergency medical services, 9-1-1 and other local, state, and federal agencies along with people who live and work in Cleburne County. By working together, we are creating a better-prepared, safer, and more resilient county.�
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Contact Cleburne County EMA at (256) 463-7130 or log on to www.areyoureadygoEMA.com or www.cleburnecounty.us
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