Cowley County Emergency Management

Announcing the 2012 Storm Fury on the Plains Presentation

Download the informational flyer for more information.

Earthquake Safety Tips

In light of the recent events that have affected the area, below are some tips and safety information regarding earthquakes.  If you would like additional information, please feel free to call our office during normal business hours at (620) 221-0470, or (620) 441-4569.

Before an earthquake:

  • If you don’t already have one, consider putting together an emergency kit.  Visit this link for more information.
  • Know where and how to turn off utilities such as gas and electricity.  Contact your local utility company for help if necessary.
  • Take preventative actions to limit possible injuries, including:
    • Secure shelving, light fixtures, pictures, and other items that might shake loose and fall
    • Place large or heavy items on lower shelves
    • Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
    • Store chemicals and household cleaners in closed cabinets on a low shelf, being careful to keep chemicals that may react strongly to each other separate
  • Identify safe places to go in each room.  The safest places to be are under a sturdy table, or against an inside wall.

During an earthquake:

  • DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
  • Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
  • Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
  • Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not exit a building during the shaking. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

After an earthquake:

  • When the shaking stops, look around to make sure it is safe to move. Then exit the building if necessary.
  • Tune to your local TV or radio station, on a battery-operated radio or television if necessary, for the latest emergency information.
  • Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
  • Inspect utilities and structures for damage.  Contact your local utility company or other professional help if necessary.
  • Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.

FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will occur on Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. eastern standard time and may last up to 30 seconds.

Read the Full Release Here

Social Networking Disclaimer

Any information on the Emergency Management website or the affiliated services included (RSS Feeds, Twitter or Facebook) will be updated as time allows.

These are simply meant to be additional tools from which you can gather information. Please do not use these tools as your only source. Continue to refer to local media outlets for more information.

Websites and Social Networking sites are NOT to be used to report any information such as emergencies or other issues that require immediate assistance. If you have an emergency, do not use these tools – call 911. RSS Feeds, Twitter and Facebook are only meant to disseminate information to the end user.

NWS Launches New Heat Safety website en Español

The National Weather Service is redoubling efforts to help America become a “Weather-ready” nation, and has launched a new heat safety website in Spanish. The new site aims to educate the nation’s growing Hispanic population about the health dangers of prolonged heat exposure.

Enhanced NWS Radar News Release

Contact: Richard H. Elder                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                                                            June 30, 2011

Enhanced National Weather Service Radar to Improve Precipitation, Tornado Detection

The National Weather Service Doppler radar serving Central and Southeast Kansas is now being enhanced with the latest dual polarization technology that will result in better estimation of precipitation amount, size and type in addition to spotting precisely where a damaging tornado has touched down.

Dual polarization radar technology can better detect heavy rainfall in flooding events, improve hail detection in thunderstorms and improve classification of precipitation types (rain, snow, ice). It can also detect the presence of airborne tornado debris, giving a forecaster a high degree of confidence that a damaging tornado is occurring. This helps a forecaster confirm and track the location of a tornado, which is especially helpful at night when tornadoes are difficult to spot with the human eye.

“This is the most significant upgrade to the nation’s weather radar network since Doppler radar was first installed in the early 1990s,” said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Dual polarization technology provides significantly more information and clearer pictures of current weather conditions, helping National Weather Service meteorologists provide more accurate and timely forecasts.”

Current National Weather Service radars provide forecasters information on precipitation intensity and movement (direction and speed). Dual polarization technology adds new information about the size and shape of an object, which will improve estimates of how much rain is falling, improving flash flood detection and warnings. During winter weather, dual polarization radar can tell the difference between rain, snow and ice, which gives forecasters a much better idea of what to expect at the ground.

“This radar upgrade, which is the first of its kind in the eleven states making up the Central Region of the National Weather Service, and the third such installation nationally, will improve our ability to detect life threatening weather,” said Dick Elder, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wichita.

Installation will begin on July 6th and will last about two weeks. During the upgrade, adjacent National Weather Service radars will provide coverage. Installation of dual polarization technology in all 122 National Weather Service radars is expected to be completed in 2013. Thirty eight other Doppler radars owned by the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration will also be upgraded.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us on Facebook.

Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration

"Small, non-farm businesses in 49 Kansas counties and neighboring counties in Nebraska and Oklahoma may now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 'These disaster loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that began January 1, 2011...'"

Click here to download the full information sheet.

Current Road Closings

In order to keep the public informed of current known road closings, Emergency Management has added a new link in the right column navigation called "Current Road Closings".

The closed roads report requires Acrobat Reader

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Tornado Safety

Report Signage/Road Problems

Emergency Management Listed as one of the 50 Best Careers

U.S. News and World ReportU.S. News & World Report has listed Emergency Management as one of the 50 best careers of 2010. Learn more about the projected growth of this career over the next decade.

Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan and Hazard Analysis Plan

The Cowley County Emergency Management Agency has completed an extensive update of the 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Cowley County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee has analyzed the overall risk and impact from past hazards on area residents, property, and critical infrastructure. That information was considered in evaluating and updating past mitigation policies and initiatives to prevent future disaster losses, in particular for natural hazards.

Cowley County Emergency Operations Plan

The Cowley County "EOP" is available on our About EM page. Click here to view the Emergency Operations Plan.

National Threat Advisory System (NTAS) Replaces Homeland Security Advisory System

The National Terrorism Advisory System, or NTAS, replaces the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This new system will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.

It recognizes that Americans all share responsibility for the nation’s security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the United States and what they should do.