Summary: Emergency managers have long understood that communicating effectively with the public is essential during a disaster or an emergency. Information is critically important to people affected by an emergency. People need to know what is going on and what they need to do to protect themselves and their families.  And they must be informed about where they can find help if they need it. 

Summary:  Two years ago, when there was a chemical spill at a refinery near Delaware City, Del., authorities had trouble notifying the 6,000 people who could have been affected by the spill and fire. After that, emergency planners decided they needed to set up a new emergency warning system.

Summary:  The cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Chesapeake are all located in the same southeastern region of Virginia.  These cities have joined together to develop one regional Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response System plan for the 10 cities and six counties of the Hampton Roads region. This smart practice details how they found a reliable source of local funding to sustain their preparedness efforts.

Summary:  “It won’t happen to me,” is a common response to the possibility of disaster. But, emergency managers and responders know that  earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorism and other natural and unnatural disasters can happen at any time. Catastrophic events could overwhelm fire, law enforcement and medical and emergency services. Communities might be on their own for several hours or days. That’s why Los Angeles County developed the Emergency Survival Program (ESP).

Summary:  El Segundo covers just 5.5 square miles and has a resident population of only about 16,000 people.  But El Segundo is close to the Los Angeles International Airport and numerous industries that represent national security interests.  And during the week, its population expands to include a workforce of more than 90,000. On September 11, 2001, its EOC was overwhelmed with calls from local businesses and industry.

Summary: Any disaster situation in the Washington D.C., or Baltimore. Md., could potentially affect residents in neighboring Howard County.  That’s why the county and its community-based organizations decided to launch a major emergency preparedness effort that would involve as many citizens and sectors of the community as possible.

Summary: During an emergency or disaster, taking care of large animals requires advance planning and workers that know how to handle and move animals to safety. Burke County Emergency Services developed a rescue plan and sponsored training for emergency workers. In Los Angeles County in California, the Department of Animal Care and Control organized and trained the LA County Equine Response Team.

Summary: Located north of Sacramento, Calif., the town of Paradise is in a high-risk area for wild land fires. In the event of a wild land fire, it may be necessary to evacuate hundreds or even thousands of people in a very short period of time. Consequently, the Paradise Public Works Department developed an emergency evacuation action plan for wild land fires.

Summary:  In possibly one of the first exercises of its kind, the Baxter County Health Unit, a division of the Arkansas Department of Health, combined an important public health initiative with a bioterrorism preparedness exercise. By using real flu vaccinations in the exercise, the county was able to address a possible flu outbreak while practicing processes for vaccinating large numbers of area residents. 

Summary: Wild land fires often pose a significant threat to people, property and the environment in the Western United States.  This week’s Spotlight focuses on an initiative in Arizona to address the need for trained and certified wild land firefighters.