Servicing the Counties of:  Rice, McPherson, Marion, Reno, Harvey, Butler, Sedgwick, Kingman, Harper, Sumner, and Cowley

The federal government requires all states and local governments to have hazard mitigation plans, approved by FEMA, that are consistent with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000).  This is required to maintain eligibility for certain types of federal disaster assistance, such as pre-disaster and post-disaster mitigation funding.

For the past few months the planning committee officials have been drafting the Regional Mitigation Plan, and now seek public comment and review.  This plan is intended to identify feasible strategies to reduce the potential loss of life, human suffering, and loss of property from natural disasters, such as floods, snow and ice storms, tornados, and power outages.

Your input is very important to this process and we ask that you take a few moments to review the material below and complete the short questionnaire provided on the link below.

Hazard Rankings – for the Regional Mitigation Plan the following hazards were ranked as the top 10.  Remember, this is for all of the counties that make up the region, not each county separately.  So, while Reno County may have a high incidence of wildfire, Sedgwick county may not (hypothetical).  But averaged together they would meet in the middle on the ranking.  These rankings were based on the probability, magnitude, warning time, and duration that potentially could be realized.

1.  Tornado                                                      6.  Utility/Infrastructure Failure

2.  Winter Storm                                             7.  Hailstorm

3.  Flood                                                           8.  Hazardous Materials

4.  Windstorm                                                 9.  Major Disease Outbreak

5.  Wildfire                                                       10.Extreme Temperatures

Previous 10 FEMA Disasters that have affected Region G:

The following is a link to surveymonkey.com which has a short survey we encourage you to complete for inclusion in the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.  Specifically, we are looking for information on local issues that each identified hazard could potentially aggravate.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZWWSS9

Questions about the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan may be directed to John Stradal, Cowley County Emergency Management, at (620) 221-0470, or jstradal@cowleycounty.org.

Monday, June 17 –EAT YOUR VEGETABLES DAY – Preparedness AND eating healthy. How much better can it get?

Thursday, June 20 – BALD EAGLE DAY – That majestic bird does deserve a special day!

Friday, June 21 – FIRST DAY OF SUMMER – We can now say good bye to spring storms but that doesn’t mean we are off the hook for summer storms. This should also be the longest (in terms of light) day of the year. Take advantage by doing a check of emergency kit, go bag and doing a “walk about” in the yard to make sure all things are secure.

How lucky are we? We have managed to escape the major brunt of storms passing overhead but have received some beneficial rain! We’ve had an excellent opportunity this year to prepare ourselves for whatever that famous Kansas weather pattern might blow our way. It has been said many times:”Prepare for the worse, hope for the best.” Now we are in the final phase. Beginning today, and for the next two weeks, we will be visiting Cowley County communities to give an emergency preparedness presentation and to provide citizens, especially those out of the hearing range of sirens, with severe weather radios.

A quick review of the requirements as per FEMA and State of Kansas:

*You must be 18 years of age and older

*One radio per household

*Must be a resident of Cowley County

*Must bring photo ID and proof of residency

If you want to make sure the clock on the radio stays set as we program it for you, it would be helpful for you to also bring along 3 AA batteries (not included) for backup.

The complete presentation schedule is listed below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Cowley County Emergency Management office. If you already have a severe weather radio but would like programming/use instructions, please bring it with you to the meeting.

June 17 @ 7 PM – Cambridge Presbyterian Church

June 18 @ 6:30 PM – Atlanta Fire Station

June 19 @ 6:30 PM – Udall City Bldg

June 20 @ 7 PM- Burden City Hall

June 24 @ 6:30 PM – Tisdale Methodist Church

June 25 @ 7 PM – Dexter Community Bldg

June 26 @ 6:30 PM – Winfield Chamber of Commerce

June 27 @ 7 PM – South Central Kansas Medical Center

July 1 @ 6:30 PM – Parkerfield Community Bldg

If you have any questions regarding emergency response, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

As always, if you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Cowley County Emergency Management team via email or by calling 620/221-0470 or 620/441-4569.

We hope you will find this list beneficial and will also encourage your family members and friends to join us on Face book at www.facebook.com/CowleyCountyEM  or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CowleyCountyEM  for this and other helpful hints.

The storm activity all around us the past few weeks has definitely given us reason to think about what we need to do, want to do and can do.

DURING THE STORM – Last week we talked about finding shelter and staying there until you were given the all clear by local media. Remember, CCEM does not sound an “all clear” siren. If you need another reason to stay put other than “because,” here it is. The majority of deaths reported last Friday were due to people being trapped in their vehicles on the road. Three of those deaths were experienced storm spotters.

AFTER THE STORM – Calls were received at the office by people wanting to assist in the affected area. As a people, we are ready to respond to when our fellow countrymen are in trouble. However, there is a time to rush to an event and there is a time to stay away. Unless you are a trained first responder, please be patient and stay put. First responders need to secure the area and find people as quickly as possible. If you are not trained to do this safely, you could actually cause harm to yourself and others – thus, becoming part of the problem.

The best way to help is to donate money to a well-established organization (i.e. Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, etc.) you know will be on site to help victims. Do not think a donation of $10 or $20 will be of no value.  These organizations have well-trained volunteers who know exactly what is needed and when. This is not the time to clean out your closet to send shoes, clothing and household items to the area. Volunteers can better spend their time with direct assistance, not sorting through piles of clothing and other donated items.   If homes and buildings have been destroyed, where will the items be stored? These organizations can use your donation to purchase food and water, assist with shelter, cover immediate need expenses, etc. They are also able to purchase these items at discounted rates, therefore getting much more for the money than you or I could.

When do you volunteer? Even trained groups such as CERT, MRC and CART do not respond until they have been requested to respond.  If you are determined to help, you can call 211, the United Way Volunteer hotline, to find out what help is needed and where. Volunteering through United Way or other legitimate group will assure you are properly equipped for the job and you will be accounted for by the group leader. Remember, your safety is just as important to the relief effort as is your help.

If you have any questions regarding emergency response, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

As always, if you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Cowley County Emergency Management team via email or by calling 620/221-0470 or 620/441-4569.

We hope you will find this list beneficial and will also encourage your family members and friends to join us on Face book at www.facebook.com/CowleyCountyEM  or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CowleyCountyEM  for this and other helpful hints.

 A Guide to Storm Etiquette

Last Sunday’s sounding of the sirens and Monday’s events in Moore, OK were strong reminders of the importance of being prepared for emergencies. We’ve spent the last six months stocking emergency kits, packing “go bags” and gathering up important family information. Now, let’s address a few other important issues.

Shelter – If you do not have an adequate shelter area in your home, make plans ahead of time where you and your family will go – friend, neighbor, etc. DO NOT wait until the sirens sound to decide where you will go. DO NOT just get in your car and drive around hoping to outrun the storm. You may or may not get lucky! Note: Cowley County Emergency Management does not have a list of public shelters for Cowley County.

Storm Chasing – If you are not a trained spotter, you should be preparing to get into your shelter or be in your shelter. Storm spotters are trained to identify cloud formations and spot tornadoes. They relay that information to CCEM. They spot, report and then move to locations of potential formations, all the while trying to stay ahead of or to the side of a storm and still remain safe. Not having to deal with sight-seeing motorists will make their job easier and safer.

Sirens – CCEM will sound the sirens when weather conditions warrant them (Sirens are tested at noon on Tuesdays, weather permitting. Sirens at any other time mean a tornado, funnel cloud or rotating wall cloud have been sighted in your area. If a second threat is noted, they will sound again. CCEM does not sound an all clear. You will need to stay tuned to your local radio or TV stations for those announcements.

After the Storm – If you made it through the storm safely, be thankful! Check your property, call your family members and friends, listen to the radio to find out how your community fared. You can be informed without getting into your vehicle and driving around. Stay safe and help others be safe. If there is damage in the area, keep the roads clear for the first responders. They are the ones that need to be on the road, you don’t. Your turn to go out and help will come when there is a call for assistance. A good thing to think about is: if you were the one in need of assistance, would you want the first responders to be tied up in a traffic jam of sight-seers or do you want them to have a clear shot to your house?

Next week, we will address the proper way to give assistance in your community or nationally. In the meantime, stay alert and stay prepared.

As always, if you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Cowley County Emergency Management team via email or by calling 620/221-0470 or 620/441-4569.

We hope you will find this list beneficial and will also encourage your family members and friends to join us on Facebook or twitter for this and other helpful hints.

In light of the weekend’s activities, how many of you actually felt better prepared when the sirens were sounded in the county? My emergency kit was in the storm shelter and the “go bag” went in about the time I knew there would be no escaping the severe weather. As a result, when the sirens sounded, I grabbed my purse and cell phone, knowing all else was already in place.  All of those preparations ahead of time help lighten the stress load. So, I hate to bring up another concern but, this too, is important. What is your plan? If you have one, did it work? Does it need revision? Does everyone in the family know the plan?

THE PLAN: Have you made the plan with everyone in mind? Is there a plan that covers the family when everyone or almost everyone is away from the home? If there is no shelter area in your home, where is the designated shelter your family will use? How will you communicate with each other? Several things to keep in mind when you address the communication issue with family members: cell phone towers may be down, power may be out (do you still have an old phone you can plug in directly without the use of power) and it is often easier to make a long distance call than it is to make a local call because the lines are jammed.  It is for this reason we recommend designating at least one friend or relative out of the area to be your main point of contact.

If you have already done all of the above, good for you!!! Since there were a number of activities scheduled for Sunday, how did the plan and preparedness work for you? Now is the best time to evaluate the situation and make whatever changes need to be made before there is another event. If it all went very well, congratulations!!! You might (and should) share those preparedness steps with friends or family you know are still working on their plan.

As always, if you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Cowley County Emergency Management team via email or by calling 620/221-0470 or 620/441-4569.

We hope you will find this list beneficial and will also encourage your family members and friends to join us on Face book at www.facebook.com/CowleyCountyEM  or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CowleyCountyEM  for this and other helpful hints.

PREPAREDNESS HINTS – May 13, 2013

The “Go Bag”

I know, I know! The “to do” list just seems to go on and on. This is the last “suggested” list – for while, I promise.  Let’s think about the “go bag” – in other words, the bag you would grab if you had less than five minutes to evacuate your home. Don’t just think tornado because, for the most part, we have adequate warning and usually shelter in place (right next to the emergency preparedness kit). If you do leave your home at the time of a watch or warning, you probably have your kit in the car but you will still need some personal items that are not included. In times of extreme emergency (fire, flash flood, chemical spill, etc.) when time is of the essence, the best you might be able to do is grab the bag.

Some of the same items that go into the emergency kit should be in the “go bag” and you do have some license to pack it as you please – depending if you are going into “survival” mode or just want to “get by” for a couple of days. At the top of your list and then in descending order should be:

Medications (3 days min., a week would be better), assistive devices (glasses, etc.)

Water (or a portable system (tablets or Clorox) to purify water

Protein bars

Contact information and copies of important papers (best if saved to a thumb drive)

Flashlight and extra batteries

Change of clothing (about 3 days if possible) and sturdy shoes

Solar blanket or some type of portable shelter

First aid kit

Jacket and/or poncho

Cell phone and charger

Fire starter/matches in waterproof container

Sunscreen, bug spray or wipes

If any of you watched Ray German’s demonstration at the Health and Safety Fair, you know it is possible to get all of the above and so much more into a basic backpack. A good family activity would be to browse the aisles of a camping supply store, a Target or a Wal Mart to find helpful items for each bag. The “go bag” is definitely something custom packed for each person. Additional ideas and hints can be found at the www.ready.gov  or www.fema.gov websites.

Above all else, Be prepared, stay alert, and be safe!

As always, if you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Cowley County Emergency Management team via email or by calling 620/221-0470 or 620/441-4569.

We hope you will find this list beneficial and will also encourage your family members and friends to join us on Facebook or www.cowleycounty.org/EM  for this and other helpful hints. 20 Weeks and other postings are found under EM News.