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Welcome to the Altus Emergency Management page. If you have questions, please feel free to visit http://www.ready.gov, call 800-BE-READY, or call the local emergency manager closest to you. If you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 911. If 911 fails, know the direct line to the Public Safety Answer Point that serves you. For non-emergent government and social service information call 211.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Weather Data for #AltusOK from @OKmesonet
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Drought Talk Scheduled in #AltusOK
Gary McManus with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey is set to return to the Southwest Technology Center, 711 W Tamarack February 26 for a 1 p.m. briefing on the drought in the area.
"Mr. McManus will be providing the current picture of the drought to area residents," said Lloyd Colston, Altus Emergency Management director.
The Drought Monitor ... http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
McManus has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. As a climatologist, McManus studies long-term weather statistics for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
The briefing is a free public service provided by local emergency managers.
For more information, individuals may call Wayne Cain, Jackson County emergency manager at 5804820229 or Colston at 5804812260 or visit http://altusem.blogspot.com on the Internet.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Fire Safety for Older Adults #OKfire #AltusOK #OKready
We all have an important role to play when it comes to preventing fires, especially during the winter season when home fires increase. As the mercury plunges, help ensure the safety of individuals in your family or community that are most at-risk for fires – older adults. According to theU.S. Fire Administration (USFA), adults age 65 or over are twice as likely to suffer fatal injuries in a home fire.
Follow these tips from the USFA to help older loved ones safely enjoy the winter months:
- Make sure there is a working fire alarm installed on each level of their home;
- Conduct a home assessment to identify existing fire hazards;
- Educate them and their caregivers on how to prevent fires; and
- Have a fire escape plan with easily accessible escape routes.
For community-wide fire education, the USFA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the “Fire-Safe Seniors” program to plan and implement fire safety interventions for older adults. Access the free toolkits, handouts, and other resources to prepare your community today! Your efforts can also count towards participation in America’s PrepareAthon! so be sure to register on the campaign’s website.
With a good understanding of fire prevention, older adults can stay safe this winter and seasons to come.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
CERT courses available
There are seats available for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) courses in February at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD. The E0427 CERT Program Manager and the E0428 CERT Train-the-Trainer courses are offered February 23-27, 2015. Students who wish to take both courses must submit a separate application for each course.
The E0427 CERT Program Manager course is intended for current CERT Program Managers or professionals and volunteers who are interested in being a local CERT Program Manager. You will learn the core components of a local CERT program and effective practices for:
- Developing local CERT program goals and a related strategic plan;
- Promoting local CERT programs;
- Orienting, managing, and retaining CERT members;
- Recruiting, funding, managing, and retaining CERT trainers.
The CERT Train-the-Trainer course includes:
- Delivering the CERT Basic Training;
- Conveying the messages and intent of the CERT Program; and
- Creating a comfortable yet managed learning environment.
These trainings are a great way to learn, not just from the seasoned instructors who teach the class, but also from the participants who hail from CERT programs throughout the country. Take advantage by enrollingtoday!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Business Disaster Recovery #AltusOK #OKready
Business owners invest time, money and resources to get their ventures up and running, but many of them fail to properly plan for disasters. According to the Small Business Administration, an estimated 25 percent of businesses do not re-open after a major incident. Having a functional disaster recovery plan will help owners keep their business operating.
Agility Recovery offers solutions on how to ensure your business remains resilient and a list of mistakes business owners commonly make when preparing for disasters. Here are a few of the items they say companies should include when planning for the unexpected:
- Anticipate the cost of recovery. Recovering documents and data can often run tens of thousands of dollars. Before disaster strikes, determine what documents you will be required to recover and consider storing them securely off-site or digitally;
- Properly inform and prepare employees. All employees should be familiar with the company’s disaster recovery plan and their role in it. Make the plan part of new-hire training and review it each year with all employees; and
- Test your disaster recovery plan. Many business managers know their data is being backed up, but they have never tried to access it from a different location using hardware at that facility. Testing your recovery plan is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of preparedness programs.
Company leaders should have a general idea of how long it will take to restore data and the number of people needed to restore business functions. Before starting a disaster strategy, check out the remaining items in Agility Recovery’s “11 Common Disaster Planning Mistakes.”
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Do 1 Thing in February
Last month we informed you about “Do 1 Thing,” an exciting web-based program designed to prepare your family for emergencies throughout the year. We hope you were able to participate in the January theme of “Make a Plan.” If not, we encourage you to take part in next month’s theme: “Water.”
Water is an essential element to survival and a necessary item in anemergency supply kit. During the month of February, take action to store three days worth of water for your household.
“Do 1 Thing” offers the following list of ways to achieve this goal:
- Purchase and store a 72-hour supply of commercially bottled water;
- Bottle a 72-hour supply of water at home; or
- Learn how to provide a safe supply of drinking water for your household in a disaster.
By completing one of these actions, you’ll be better prepared for the unexpected. Also, you will be participating in America’s PrepareAthon!, a national campaign to prepare for hazards specific to your community through drills, group discussions, and exercises. Register your action on thecampaign’s website. Be counted among the two million preparedness actions already taken by families, businesses, and organizations across the country leading up to National PrepareAthon! Day on April 30, 2015.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Youth Preparedness Council Now Accepting Applications #AltusOK #OKready
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities and provides an opportunity for young people to offer their perspectives, feedback and insights on how to help make America more resilient.
As advocates for preparedness, Council members will complete a self-selected youth preparedness project and have the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas, solutions and questions about youth disaster preparedness with FEMA leadership and national organizations working on preparedness initiatives. Members also have the opportunity to brief FEMA officials on strategies, initiatives and projects throughout their one-year term.
To apply, applicants must be 13 to 17 years old. They must also be engaged in individual and community preparedness or have experienced a disaster that motivated them to make a positive difference in their community. Adults working with youth or on community preparedness are encouraged to share the application with young people who might be interested in applying for the Youth Preparedness Council.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must submit a completedapplication form and two letters of recommendation. Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received no later than March 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. EST. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2015.
For more information about completing and submitting the application, please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-