[Temslist] FW: Hurricane Season is Here

[Tidewater EMS Council Listserv]

________________________________

From: Winnie Pennington [mailto:Winnie.Pennington at vdh.virginia.gov]
Sent: Wed 6/4/2008 10:28 AM
Subject: Hurricane Season is Here

Good morning! 

It is hurricane season again!  Yes, another year has passed and here we are again looking toward the Atlantic and wondering what the next six months will hold for our great Commonwealth. So, I would like to take this time to remind everyone the importance of being prepared for hurricanes or any type of emergency or disaster.  

Several things that we as individuals should review, do, or make sure we have included in our preparations: 

	*	A Family Disaster Plan -  include meeting places, outside contacts, special needs, and provisions for our pets 
	*	A Family Disaster Kit - enough for 5 days either away from home or sheltering-in-place 
	*	Training - make sure everyone in your family that can knows CPR and basic first aid.  Create a Citizen's Emergency Response Team (CERT) in your neighborhood and take the training so that you and your neighbors can help each other while waiting for additional help to come. 
	*	Deployment Plan - First responders need to additionally plan for the protection of their family while they are helping the community. 
		

As First Responders and Emergency workers we also need to be familiar with our jurisdiction, agency and/or department's Emergency Operations and Hurricane Plan.  If you are not familiar with your organization's plans, review ithem inow to make sure you understand your tasks, the tasks and responsibilities of your agency.  Also learn your chain-of-command and organizational chart both for you individually and for your agency before an emergency strikes.

Some websites to help you, your family, and your organization plan for hurricanes and other emergencies include: 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - 
www.ready.gov <http://www.ready.gov/>   and FEMA Kids - www.fema.gov/kids/ <http://www.fema.gov/kids/>   (Kid friendly) 

Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) - 
 www.vaemergency.gov <http://www.vaemergency.gov/>  or www.readyvirginia.gov <http://www.readyvirginia.gov/>  

American Red Cross (ARC) - 
www.prepare.org <http://www.prepare.org/>  

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA Disaster Preparedness) - 
www.avma.org/disaster/ <http://www.avma.org/disaster/>  

Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities (private business site) (also gives information for Emergency Managers) - 

www.jik.com/disater-individ.html <http://www.jik.com/disater-individ.html>  

OR 

Use your computer "Search Engine" to look up "Disaster Preparedness" 

If you still have questions or need guidance please feel free to contact me at winnie.pennington at vdh.virginia.gov <mailto:winnie.pennington at vdh.virginia.gov> . 


Winnie C. Pennington 
Emergency Planner 
Office of Emergency Medical Services 
Virginia Department of Health 
(804) 864-7644 
(804) 840-7604 (cell) 

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted" - Randy Pausch 

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