Dover Community Preparedness Day

On July 13th and 14th, the Delaware Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) taught a CERT Preparedness Class for the Life Development and Community Resource Center of Dover. The class was held  at the John Pitts Center, at Schutte Park in Dover, for twenty community and business members. Participants included the Delaware Economic Development Group, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), DuPont, Delaware 211, Goeins-Williams Association, Kent County Neighborhood Watch, the City of Dover, Ameri-Corps, the University of Delaware, and Wilmington University.

The point of contacts for the class were Natalie Way of AmeriCorps, and Kay Dietz-Sass from the City of Dover Emergency Management, who coordinated the rooming and food.

Preparedness Night at Frawley Stadium

On June 29th, the Delaware Citizen Corps co-sponsored the Annual Preparedness Night at the Blue Rocks Stadium in Wilmington. Also sponsoring the event was New Castle County and Wilmington Citizen Corps Councils / Offices of Emergency Management, along with our partner organizations the American Red Cross, the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, and the Dept. of Public Health's Preparedness Section. The one hundred degree fireworks night was a huge success, with approximately six thousand fans in attendance. There was a disaster preparedness billboard in left-center field, nine disaster kits were given away (one each inning), preparedness messages were announced throughout the game, and display tables and preparedness bags with outreach materials were placed on one thousand cars. The night allowed us to spread our preparedness message and also say thanks to all of our partners and volunteers who help us prepare Delaware citizens and businesses throughout the year.

Marny McLee, Delaware Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator and Retired Air Force Technical Sergeant, sang his rendition of the National Anthem, which was met with thunderous applause and many accolades. That video is available here.

Preparedness Night at the Blue Rocks Stadium

On Friday, June 29th, starting at 7:05PM, the Delaware Citizen Corps, Wilmington Citizen Corps / Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and NCC Citizen Corps/OEM will host our Annual Preparedness night with the Wilmington Blue Rocks Minor League baseball team. This is one of the Delaware Citizen Corps' largest events, and provides our partners including the American Red Cross, numerous Public Health organizations, and the Medical Reserve Corps an opportunity to talk preparedness with the citizens who attend.

The stadium is located at 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington, DE 19801. The game will end with a fireworks display. Tickets may be purchased from the Blue Rock's website.

Family Emergency Preparedness Day

On September 22, 2012, the Delaware Citizen Corps and Kent County Department of Public Safety will be hosting its annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day from 10:00AM - 2:00PM at the Delaware Agricultural Center in Dover. The event will feature over forty different exhibitors, state and local organizations, a K-9 demonstration, and the National Guard Climbing wall. Additionally, there will be a fire safety house, health screenings by Bayhealth, a child safety seat instructional station, and numerous vehicles from public safety agencies from across the state.

The event is free to the public. There will be disaster and emergency kit giveaways, live broadcasting by 97.7, and free food for the first five hundred people. A flyer is also available for download.

Skills Center Preparedness Training

On May 10th and 11th, the Delaware Citizen Corps Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provided preparedness training at the Delaware Skill Center in Wilmington. The class was made up of twenty staff members, instructors and students. The Wilmington Citizen Corps Council and Office of Emergency Management, represented by Director George Giles and Margie Williams, assisted with the fire suppression portion of the training. Additionally, they gave a presentation on the City of Wilmington’s Evacuation Plan. Grayson Clark from the United States Attorney’s Office gave a Terrorism Preparedness Presentation.

The CERT Team has been asked back to do a future training course. The point of contact for the training was Cindy Spears.

 

Delaware Whole Community Preparedness Workshop

FEMA Region III Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, DSHS Sec. Louis Schiliro, and Dover Mayor Carelton Carey

On April 18th and 19th, the Delaware Citizen Corps held a “Whole Community Preparedness and Resiliency Workshop,” co-hosted with FEMA Region III's  Individual and Community Preparedness Division. The event was held at the Delaware State Fire School in Dover. Approximately one hundred twenty five people from federal, state, and local governments, as well as members of numerous businesses and non-profit organizations attended. FEMA Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, DSHS Secretary Schiliro, Dover's Mayor Carey, and DEMA Director Turner were in attendance; each giving opening remarks to convene the conference each day. The first day focued on "Preparedness for the Community," while day two focused on the Public-Private Sector Partnerships. There were presentations on Emergency Planning for Active Shooters, Federal Alliance of Safe Homes (FLASH), Community Resiliency, a presentation from the Wal-Mart Emergency Preparedness Manager, and a presentation on Target's Community Engagement program. There were also panel discussions on "Engaging the Public as a Member of Emergency Management," "Accessing All Resources in a Tough Economy," and "Resiliency through Education and Awareness." Region III groups in PA, MD, VA, WV and NJ were also represented.

Delaware Citizen Corps Program Manager Robert George introduces DEMA Director Jamie Turner.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, April 22-28

As the nation marks the first anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are teaming up this week to save lives from severe weather.

The two agencies encourage the public to "know your risk, take action, and be a force of nature" by taking proactive preparedness measures and inspiring others to do the same.

Last April, tornadoes raked the central and southern United States, spawning more than 300 tornadoes and claiming hundreds of lives. That devastating, historic outbreak was only one of many weather-related tragedies in 2011, which now holds the record for the greatest number of multi-billion dollar weather disasters in the nation's history.

The country has already experienced early and destructive tornado outbreaks in the Midwest and South this year over the last two months, including a significant number of tornadoes last weekend. May is the peak season for tornadoes, so it is important to take action now.

"The damaging tornadoes that struck this year, causing widespread devastation as well as loss of life, also spurred many amazing and heroic survival stories," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. "In every one of these stories, people heard the warning, understood a weather hazard was imminent and took immediate action. We can build a Weather-Ready Nation by empowering people with the information they need to take preparedness actions across the country."

"One of the lessons we can take away from the recent tornado outbreaks is that severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "While we can't control where or when it might hit, we can take steps in advance to prepare and that's why we are asking people to pledge to prepare, and share with others so they will do the same."

To "be a force of nature," FEMA and NOAA encourage citizens to prepare for extreme weather by following these guidelines:

• Know your risk: The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for alerts from your local emergency management officials. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

• Take action: Pledge to develop an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards and practice how and where to take shelter. Create or refresh an emergency kit for needed food, supplies and medication. Post your plan where visitors can see it. Learn what you can do to strengthen your home or business against severe weather. Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio. Download FEMA's mobile app so you can access important safety tips on what to do before and during severe weather. Understand the weather warning system and become a certified storm spotter through the National Weather Service.

• Be a force of nature: Once you have taken action, tell your family, friends, school staff and co-workers about how they can prepare. Share the resources and alert systems you discovered with your social media network. Studies show individuals need to receive messages a number of ways before acting - and you can be one of those sources. When you go to shelter during a warning, send a text, tweet or post a status update so your friends and family know. You might just save their lives, too. 

For more information on how you can participate, visit www.ready.gov/severeweather