Emergency Management News

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

June Climate Data for #AltusOK from @OKmesonet

Shown as June 2016
SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Periods of Record
Temps#1903-2010
Precip#1903-2012
Snow#1903-2012
# - large gaps in record
Key
* - Record since tied
Highlight = Jun record
All Temps in deg F
All Precip in inches
Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of
days with >= 0.1" precip
Jun. Averages
High Temp93 F
Low Temp67 F
Avg Temp80 F
Precip3.60"
Snow0.0"
1T Avgs: 88/62
Sig Prcp Freq: 24%
Extremes:
High T111 (1998)
Low T48 (1964)
Precip2.87 (1963)
2T Avgs: 88/62
Sig Prcp Freq: 26%
Extremes:
High T111 (1998)
Low T45 (1917)
Precip5.87 (1991)
3T Avgs: 87/63
Sig Prcp Freq: 22%
Extremes:
High T103 (1998)
Low T44 (1919)
Precip3.40 (1949)
4T Avgs: 88/63
Sig Prcp Freq: 21%
Extremes:
High T107 (2008)
Low T49 (1919)
Precip3.38 (1995)
5T Avgs: 89/63
Sig Prcp Freq: 19%
Extremes:
High T106* (1966)
Low T47 (1928)
Precip4.60 (1985)
6T Avgs: 89/63
Sig Prcp Freq: 25%
Extremes:
High T104 (1948)
Low T49 (1998)
Precip3.60 (1941)
7T Avgs: 91/64
Sig Prcp Freq: 17%
Extremes:
High T104 (1984)
Low T48 (1983)
Precip2.00 (1989)
8T Avgs: 92/65
Sig Prcp Freq: 18%
Extremes:
High T110 (1988)
Low T51 (1915)
Precip2.70 (1937)
9T Avgs: 91/65
Sig Prcp Freq: 20%
Extremes:
High T108 (1988)
Low T54 (1996)
Precip3.30 (1979)
10T Avgs: 91/65
Sig Prcp Freq: 18%
Extremes:
High T111 (1958)
Low T51 (1955)
Precip3.15 (1995)
11T Avgs: 91/65
Sig Prcp Freq: 21%
Extremes:
High T108 (1958)
Low T48 (1955)
Precip1.18 (1995)
12T Avgs: 91/66
Sig Prcp Freq: 20%
Extremes:
High T108 (1917)
Low T51 (1903)
Precip1.72 (1982)
13T Avgs: 92/66
Sig Prcp Freq: 18%
Extremes:
High T109 (1998)
Low T50 (1941)
Precip1.95 (1978)
14T Avgs: 92/65
Sig Prcp Freq: 18%
Extremes:
High T113 (1953)
Low T48 (1947)
Precip2.17 (1944)
15T Avgs: 92/66
Sig Prcp Freq: 18%
Extremes:
High T111 (1924)
Low T53* (1947)
Precip1.93 (1928)
16T Avgs: 93/66
Sig Prcp Freq: 16%
Extremes:
High T107 (1925)
Low T50 (1917)
Precip1.26 (1972)
17T Avgs: 93/67
Sig Prcp Freq: 17%
Extremes:
High T111 (1924)
Low T55 (1981)
Precip1.49 (2000)
18T Avgs: 94/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%
Extremes:
High T113 (1924)
Low T54 (1945)
Precip0.90 (1982)
19T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 16%
Extremes:
High T109 (1998)
Low T58* (1945)
Precip1.56 (2008)
20T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 15%
Extremes:
High T109 (1998)
Low T51 (1973)
Precip2.03 (1939)
21T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 15%
Extremes:
High T111 (1998)
Low T53 (1903)
Precip2.32 (1958)
22T Avgs: 94/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 17%
Extremes:
High T107 (1969)
Low T56 (1903)
Precip4.17 (1975)
23T Avgs: 94/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 14%
Extremes:
High T105* (1953)
Low T52 (1903)
Precip1.45 (1948)
24T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 14%
Extremes:
High T111 (1980)
Low T58* (1957)
Precip2.13 (1946)
25T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 12%
Extremes:
High T111 (1980)
Low T52 (1974)
Precip2.21 (1999)
26T Avgs: 95/68
Sig Prcp Freq: 13%
Extremes:
High T111 (1918)
Low T53 (1974)
Precip2.11 (1938)
27T Avgs: 96/69
Sig Prcp Freq: 15%
Extremes:
High T115* (1980)
Low T56* (1958)
Precip1.90 (1997)
28T Avgs: 97/69
Sig Prcp Freq: 14%
Extremes:
High T113 (1980)
Low T55* (1903)
Precip1.86 (2010)
29T Avgs: 95/70
Sig Prcp Freq: 13%
Extremes:
High T110 (1980)
Low T58 (1948)
Precip2.55 (2004)
30T Avgs: 95/70
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%
Extremes:
High T108 (1980)
Low T58* (1924)
Precip3.15 (1987)

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Flammable Liquids training #AltusOK #OKhazmat

Washington – A new training resource aims to provide emergency responders with important information and best practices for responding to rail incidents involving flammable liquids such as crude oil and ethanol.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced the project April 4. Several other agencies, including FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency, assisted PHMSA with the initiative.

The resource includes a training video and other items focusing on the best ways to respond to rail incidents involving Hazard Class 3 Flammable Liquids. Each training module includes a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, a student workbook and a lesson plan for instructors. The materials are intended to provide flexible approaches for training emergency responders in pre-incident planning and response.

“Some of the most important actions we have taken during the last two years to increase the safety of transporting crude oil by rail have been providing more resources, better information and quality training for first responders,” Federal Railroad Administration head Sarah Feinberg said in a press release. “This web-based training is another tool to help first responders in communities large and small, urban, and rural quickly and effectively respond if a derailment happens.”

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Child Heat Stroke is Preventable #LookB4ULock #AltusOK

 A child in Mississippi became the sixth child in the Nation to die of heat stroke after being left in an automobile, according to Lloyd Colston, City of Altus Emergency Management Director.

According to http://noheatstroke.org/, the temperature was 85 degrees on the day the child died.

"It does not take much heat to cause a child to have heat stroke in a car," said Wayne Cain, Jackson County Emergency Management Director.  "In January, the outside temperature was only 52 degrees in Georgia when the first case occurred this year."

A YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWcgwBJGrnc shows how uncomfortable a car can be in 90 degree outdoor heat.

Safety tips from http://www.kidsandcars.org/userfiles/dangers/heat-stroke-safety-tips.pdf include:
  • Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute. 
  • “Look Before You Lock” - Get in the habit of always opening the back door to check the back seat before leaving your vehicle. Make sure no child has been left behind. 
  • Create a reminder to check the back seat. Put something you'll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., in the back seat so that you have to open the back door to retrieve that item every time you park. Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat. When the child is placed in the car seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that the child is in the back seat. 
  • Make sure you have a strict policy in place with your childcare provider about daycare drop-off. Everyone involved in the care of your child should always be aware of their whereabouts. If your child will not be attending daycare as scheduled, it is the parent’s responsibility to call and inform the childcare provider. If your child does not show up as scheduled; and they have not received a call from the parent, the childcare provider pledges to contact you immediately to ensure the safety of your child. (this is very similar to the ‘absence-line’ used by most elementary, middle and high schools) 
  • Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in driveways or garages. Ask home visitors, child care providers and neighbors to do the same.  Keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children. 
  • If a child goes missing, immediately check the inside passenger compartments and trunks of all vehicles in the area very carefully, even if they are locked. A child may lock the car doors after entering a vehicle on their own, but may not be able to unlock them. 
  • If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible. 
  • Be especially careful during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays. This is when many tragedies occur. 
  • Use drive-thru services when available (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.) and pay for gas at the pump.

This can happen to anyone, stated Colston.  From parents, to grandparents, to aunts and uncles, to caregivers, no one is immune to this accident. 

"Please follow the tips," said Cain, "so an accident does not become a tragedy."

13-year-old blind student left in hot van during field trip http://bit.ly/1Q7wgyl http://bit.ly/1Q7xcmn #LookB4ULock 

Follow #CheckForBaby on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Do you have any tips to add to the list?

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Know Your Wireless Emergency Alerts #AltusOK #WRN #Skywarn


Alerts received at the right time can help keep you and your family safe during an emergency.
During an approaching natural disaster, the Wireless Emergency Alerts(WEA) will send a signal to your mobile phone, alerting you of an emergency. Your phone will vibrate and make a loud noise to indicate the emergency. WEA look like text messages, but are designed to get your attention and alert you with a unique sound and vibration, both repeated twice.
With WEA, you don’t need to download an application or subscribe to a service. Check with your service provider to find out if WEA are enabled on your device. Mobile users are not charged for receiving WEA and there is no need to subscribe. View the WEA public service announcement.
There are three types of alerts systems that are sent to your phone during an emergency or official public announcement:
  • Extreme weather and other threatening emergencies in your area;
  • AMBER alerts; and
  • Presidential alerts during a national emergency.

In cases of a weather emergency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards offers warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Many local jurisdictions also offer emergency alerts. You can find if your town, city, county, or state has an emergency alert system by performing an Internet search. Simply enter “alert” and the name of your area into a web browser.
The National Weather Service offers more information on WEA, including what kinds of weather emergencies prompt a notification. In addition, FEMA developed answers for frequently asked questions on WEA. 

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Protecting Your Food During an Outage #AltusOK #OKready


If your power goes out, knowing what to do with the food in your refrigerator and freezer can help you to stay healthy.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends you take three steps tokeep your food safe during a power outage:
  • Make sure you have appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer;
  • Know where you can get dry ice or block ice; and
  • Keep a few days worth of ready-to-eat foods that don't require cooking or cooling, such as canned goods.

If you do experience a power outage, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that you keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. In addition, consider:
  • Transferring your food to a cooler and fill it with ice or frozen gel packs if your power is off longer than four hours;
  • Keeping your freezer fully stocked, as a packed freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full); and
  • Placing food in the back of the freezer. Food items in the front, in the door, or in small packaging will defrost faster.

Refer to  the USDA’s Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out for food safety during a power outage, including what items you may need to throw away because of a prolonged outage. 

Friday, May 6, 2016

Comment period ending May 9 #NIMS #AltusOK

FEMA Seeks Comments on the Refreshed National Incident Management System

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking input into the National Incident Management System (NIMS) refresh. Files can befound on the FEMA websiteThe 30-day National Engagement Period for NIMS will conclude at 5:00 pm EDT May 9, 2016. 
FEMA supports the mission of strengthening the security and resilience of the nation by working to improve the ability of all to manage incidents, events and emergencies.
NIMS provides a consistent and common approach and vocabulary to enable the whole community to work together seamlessly and manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity.  
The draft NIMS:
  •  Reiterates the concepts and principles of the original 2004 version and the updated 2008 version;
  • Reflects and incorporates lessons learned from exercises and real world incidents and policy updates, such as the National Preparedness System and the 2013 NIMS Intelligence/Investigation Function Guidance and Field Operations Guide;
  • Reflects progress in resource typing and mutual aid and builds a foundation for the development of a national qualification system;
  • Clarifies that NIMS is more than just the Incident Command System (ICS) and that it applies to all stakeholders with roles in incident management across all five mission areas (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery);
  •  Provides guidance on a common structure and activation levels for operations and coordination centers, including Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), through new Center Management System (CMS) guidance;
    --(Note that while we will continue to track NIMS implementation, the adoption of CMS is not mandatory as part of preparedness grants);
  • Explains the relationship among ICS, CMS, and Multiagency Coordination Groups; and
  • Enhances guidance on information management processes to improve data collection plans, social media integration and the use of geographic information systems.
To review the draft of the refreshed NIMS and for additional webinar information, visit: https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system/national-engagement. To provide comments on the draft, complete the feedback form and submit it to FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Periscope Broadcast: Pet Preparedness #AltusOK #DAFN

Pet Preparedness Periscope
Pets are family members too. As you prepare your family for emergencies, don’t forget about your pets.

America’s PrepareAthon! is hosting a Periscope broadcast on Wednesday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. EDTto discuss ways to prepare your pet for an emergency. Topics will include what to put in yourpet emergency supply kit, shelter tips, and other emergency planning needs. 

Follow @PrepareAthon on Periscope to join the broadcast conversation. Don’t forget to tell your family and friends – and the other pet owners by sharing this tweet:

Join @PrepareAthon on #Periscope on 5/4 at 1 PM EDT for a discussion on how to prepare your pet for an emergency. #petpreparedness

Periscope is a free live video streaming mobile application that is compatible with the Apple (iOS) and Android (Google) mobile operating systems. To join the live broadcast, Periscope must be enabled on your mobile device.  

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Preparing for a Tornado #AltusOK #Skywarn #WRN

America's PrepareAthon! Tornado Image
To ensure that you’re able to act quickly and get the best available protection during a tornado, you need to plan ahead. Advanced planning and practicing specifically how and where you will take cover for protection may save your life.
Your primary goal is to go to the safest place for protection before the tornado approaches and take additional measures for personal cover. If a tornado warning is issued, immediately move to the best available protection.
Having advance notice that a tornado is approaching your area can give you the critical time needed to move to a place with better protection. The best protection in all tornadoes is to seek shelter in a structure built to FEMA safe room or International Code 500 storm shelter standards.
If you’re unable to get to a safe room during a tornado, move to an interior windowless room on the lowest level of a building, preferably the basement. Take personal cover under sturdy furniture such as a table. Cover your head and neck with your arms and place a blanket or coat over your body.
The America’s PrepareAthon! How to Prepare for a Tornado guide provides preparedness tips if you live, work, or travel through an area that is susceptible to tornadoes:
  • Know how to stay informed, including monitoring weather reports provided by your local media;
  • Consider buying a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receiver, which receives broadcast alerts directly from the National Weather Service and offers warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
  • Download the FEMA mobile application for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips;
  • Know where you would go to have the best level of protection from a tornado for every place you spend a lot of time, such as home, work, school, or place of worship;
  • Practice how you will communicate with your family members in case you're not together during a tornado; complete the Family Emergency Communication Plan;
  • Store at least a 3-day supply of food, water, medications, and items you may need after the tornado passes; and
  • Store the important documents on a USB flash drive or in a waterproof container that you will need to start your recovery.

Some locations don't provide protection from tornadoes, including: manufactured (mobile) homes/offices, the open space of open-plan buildings (e.g., malls, big retail stores, and gymnasiums), vehicles, and the outdoors. An alternative shelter should be identified prior to a tornado watch or warning.
You can find additional resources online, including a tornado checklist that provides guidance on what steps to take before and after a tornado.