Altus Emergency Management

Applications being accepted for the 19th Annual Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence

2012-02-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

The Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence is one of the oldest and most prestigious award programs honoring outstanding Employee Volunteer Programs. The award recognizes companies that have made workplace volunteering a central part of their business operation by putting structures, policies and evaluation in place to allow employees to give their time and talent to their communities.

Winning companies will be selected based on their ability to demonstrate exemplary evidence of the Principles of Excellence for Workplace Volunteering and will be featured throughout the National Conference on Volunteering and Service June 18-20, 2012 in New Chicago.

As a participant with the President's Volunteer Service Award program we realize you may also partner with for- profit corporations that do great work for you. Please share this announcement with companies that you would like to see considered for this award.

The 2012 Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence honorees will be announced in June 2012.
We look forward to hearing about your great employee volunteer programs. Should you have any questions or require assistance please contact Melanie Stevenson at mstevenson@pointsoflight.org or call 404-574-5378.

Deadline for applications is March 19, 2012 11:59 EST

To learn more about the award or to complete an application please visit

www.PointsofLight.org/recognition/corpaward

National Severe Weather Workshop

2012-02-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

In just a very few days, members of the severe weather community, including emergency management, Skywarn members, and local, State, and National meteorologists will converge in Norman for the National Severe Weather Workshop.

Each year, the workshop focuses on the best practices of weather forecasting and Community alerting.

Members of the Altus Skywarn Association and local emergency managers have attended in the past.

Will you be attending this year? What do you hope to learn?

What are the Fire Conditions?

2012-02-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

CMAS Forum #SMEM #IPAWS

2012-02-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Science and Technology Directorate within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is hosting
a Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) Forum on February 21, in Las Vegas. This CMAS Forum
provides stakeholders nationwide with a unique opportunity to discuss CMAS research, development,
and testing in advance of CMAS deployment in April.

The CMAS Forum is designed to address current and future-state initiatives to advance CMAS
capabilities nationwide. Information gathered will guide efforts for future CMAS planning, including
standards development and emerging technologies. The CMAS Forum will take place at the Las Vegas
Convention Center, Room S226, in conjunction with the International Wireless Communications Expo,
from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM PST.

The discussions and partnerships developed at the CMAS Forum will outline specific actions needed for
preparing communities for CMAS and will advance alerts and warnings capabilities nationwide, enhance
vital partnerships, and lay the groundwork for future success.

REGISTRATION AND HOTEL

Participants can register to attend the CMAS Forum by completing the attached registration form
and sending it to CMAS_Forum@sra.com. By registering via the attached form, participants will
automatically be registered for IWCE’s exhibit hall at no charge. Participants who wish to attend the full
IWCE conference should mention the CMAS Forum and code H28 when registering for IWCE to receive
25% off IWCE conference prices.

IWCE has arranged for reduced hotel rates, which are available on a first-come first-served basis. To
learn more about hotel and travel options when planning your attendance at the CMAS Forum, please
visit IWCE for information about rates and procedures for reserving a hotel room.

'ShakeOut' Drill Puts Quake Preparedness to the Test

2012-02-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

Oklahomans Encouraged to Participate in Regional Earthquake Drill

Next Tuesday, February 7, Oklahomans are encouraged to join more than 2 million people in nine states as they "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" in a region-wide earthquake drill. The event, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oklahoma Geological Survey and is part of the second annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

In recent years Oklahoma has seen more earthquake activity, including a record-breaking 5.6 magnitude earthquake in November. The ShakeOut exercise is designed to help Oklahomans be better prepared in the event that a strong earthquake occurs in the state.

In Oklahoma, more than 45,000 people have already signed up to participate in the drill, including 134 Oklahoma schools, government agencies, and other organizations.

During the ShakeOut, participants will drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to the table for about 60 seconds until the exercise ends. Experts say this is the best way to protect yourself during an earthquake, since in the U.S. the primary threat for injury during an earthquake is falling debris and toppling objects, like bookcases and heavy electronics, rather than structural collapse.

Additionally, to emphasize the importance of earthquake preparedness, Gov. Mary Fallin has proclaimed February 7 as Earthquake Awareness Day in Oklahoma.

"In this state, we recognize the importance of being prepared for all types of disasters, including earthquakes, which is why we are taking part in this regional exercise," said OEM Director Albert Ashwood. "We applaud Oklahomans for their eagerness to join us in this effort."

This event is held in conjunction with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, local emergency managers, and the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Individuals, schools and businesses are encouraged to participate in the ShakeOut exercise by registering online at www.shakeout.org/centralus. Registered participants will receive information about how to plan their drill.

###

FEMA Preparedness Monthly Call #Prepared

2012-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

The next FEMA Preparedness monthly call will be held Tuesday, February 7th at 3:00 ET / Noon PT.

We're continuing the year with a series of FEMA Preparedness Calls that will be geared toward the needs and interests of our state and local partners. The calls serve as a resource for you to hear about new developments at the local, state, and national level, share promising practices, discuss relevant topics, and ask questions directly to each other and FEMA officials.
Last month nearly 300 state and local participants logged in! We hope you'll continue to keep in close touch.

Topics for this month's call include:

Low Cost, Creative Options for Community Outreach featuring Jodi Simpson of the St. Clair, Michigan Citizen Corps Council
Showcasing the White House Champions of Change event that recently honored 17 individuals and organizations doing innovative work to prepare their communities.
Messaging on Children and Burn Safety: Safe Kids World Wide
Overview of Free, Simple, and Effective Preparedness Activities, FEMA Course, IS 909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone

NOTE: Before participating on the call, you must be registered. Click the following link to register:
https://connect.hsin.gov/readymonthly/event/registration_login.html

This link is available anytime leading up to the webinar.

If you have previously registered with the HSIN Connect system, you can use your current login information to access the webinar. If you already have a login identification and password, log in to the webinar using the link below:

https://connect.hsin.gov/readymonthly/event/login.html.

If you have any questions regarding the call, please contact ready@fema.gov

Incident Command School

2012-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Two classes in the Incident Command System are being offered in Altus, according to emergency management officials.

ICS-300, Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents, is being offered February 7-8 at the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Headquarters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

ICS-400, Advanced Incident Command System, is being offered February 21-22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Prerequisites for the courses are IS-100 and -200, offered online at http://training.fema.gov

Seating is limited. Students are requested to register by email to register@osufst.org or calling 800-304-5727.

In the class, the students will learn how to apply incident command structures to events such as the ice storm of two years ago.

Instructors are certified by Oklahoma Homeland Security and continuing education hours for response professionals are available.

For information about this and other classes, visit http://osufst.org/calendar/main.php?view=upcoming&categoryfilter[]=22 for the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training calendar.

For information about ICS, call Jerry Gibson at 5804820229 or Lloyd Colston at 5804812260.

What are the Fire Conditions?

2012-01-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

Oklahoma Earthquakes

2012-01-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

FEMA ENCOURAGES AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN MORE THAN ONE MILLION IN PUBLIC EARTHQUAKE DRILL

Nine states across the central U.S. will participate in The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m. CST. This second annual central U.S. ShakeOut is a public earthquake drill organized and coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners. FEMA is encouraging everyone across the central United States to participate in the event, including schools, businesses, governments and other organizations.

“Everyone has a role in disaster preparedness, and drills like this one offer a valuable opportunity for all levels of government, non-profit and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and the public to put their preparedness plans into action,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Participating in this drill, putting together a disaster preparedness plan and building a kit are simple steps that everyone can take.”

You only have seconds to react to an earthquake, so it’s important to know what to do when the grounds starts shaking. On Feb. 7, you can practice the following:

• DROP to the ground,

• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

The drill will start at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, when the National Weather Service sends a tone-alert to the NOAA Weather Radio, and the radio will tell those listening to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

Devastating earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile, are powerful evidence of how destructive natural disasters can be, and that they can strike without any warning. Scientists estimate the probability of a magnitude 6.0 or larger earthquake occurring along the New Madrid Seismic Zone within any 50 year period is 25-40 percent. It is as important as ever to strengthen our nation’s disaster resilience across the country, and the ShakeOut is a great opportunity to do so.

Anyone who has not already joined us, is encouraged to register for the ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/centralus. The ShakeOut is free, open to the general public, and anyone can get more information or register to participate by visiting www.shakeout.org/centralus.

For more information on earthquake preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.

###

2011 Tornado Deaths

2012-01-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

With 2011 gone and 2012 before us, please take some time to review what happened across the USA this year in tornado deaths.

Can we say that Oklahoma faired better than the rest of the States with only 14 tornado deaths? Texas and New Mexico recorded NO tornado deaths.

2011 closed out the books as the second deadliest year on record. How will 2012 fair?

It will fair much better if residents will take the time now to plan. How will you get a tornado warning? Weather radio still remains a good option. Cell phone and pager alerts are becoming more popular.

Residents will fair better if they have a plan. Where will you go for severe weather? Does your school have a plan? What about your day care home or center? Does your work have a plan?

Residents will fair better if they have a kit to support the plan. How will you communicate with your loved ones that you are safe? If you have to evacuate, where will you go? Do you have your numbers for your insurance company?

Please plan now what you will do before tornado season 2012 starts. WHAT? There's not a month that there has not had a tornado in Altus? Plan now then.

Railroad Collision Investigation training

2012-01-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

Operation Lifesaver Railroad Collission Investigation Class is being offered in Jackson County. Seating is limited.

CLEET hours are available for Law Enforcement personnel.

It's critical that when highway-rail intersection collisions do occur, law enforcement officers--often the first responders--are familiar with both railroad operations and highway-rail grade crossing conditions. Operation Lifesaver offers a special course teaching officers how to ensure their personal safety, both while responding to rail collision incidents and throughout the investigation.

If your community contains railroad tracks, your officers could be involved in a specialized highway-rail grade crossing collision investigation. Operation Lifesaver's Grade Crossing Collision Investigation (GCCI) course is designed to inform and prepare your department for that eventuality. Our GCCI training was developed for the North American law enforcement community with cooperation from the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

What are the Fire Conditions in #AltusOK today?

2012-01-14T05:02:00.000-08:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

What is the Wind Chill Index

2012-01-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

With winter comes cold and, in Oklahoma, it stays windy.

Our friends at the National Weather Service have a page to explain wind chill and help you determine what it is for you.

They also join FEMA and the American Red Cross is giving cold weather tips.

Prepare now for the next winter event. It may be close.

Generator Safety

2012-01-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

When there are power outages, there's often a generator that's being placed in service to help minimize the inconvenience.

Our friends at the US Fire Administration would like you to know:

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from improper use of portable generators.

To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Hazards:

Always use generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents.
NEVER use generators in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, or other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation.
Follow manufacturer's instructions.
Install battery-operated or plug-in (with battery backup) carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home, following manufacturer's instructions.
Test CO alarms often and replace batteries when needed.

To Avoid Electrical Hazards:

Keep the generator dry. Operate on a dry surface under an open, canopy- like structure.
Dry your hands before touching the generator.
Plug appliances directly into generator or use a heavy-duty outdoor- rated extension cord. Make sure the entire extension cord is free of cuts or tears and the plug has all 3 prongs, especially a grounding pin.
NEVER plug the generator into a wall outlet. This practice, known as backfeeding, can cause an electrocution risk to utility workers and others served by the same utility transformer.
If necessary to connect generator to house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified electrician install appropriate equipment. Or, your utility company may be able to install an appropriate transfer switch.

To Avoid Fire Hazards:

Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
Always store fuel outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.
Store fuel away from any fuel-burning appliance.

Information for this fact sheet was provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.The folks over at Prepared Society have been discussing this issue for a while.

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Please celebrate responsibly.

If you are hosting a New Year's Eve party, following a few simple rules could prevent a tragedy:

Plan ahead by naming a "designated driver." Make this your responsibility as the host.
Contact a local cab company to provide rides for your guests.
Serve non-alcoholic beverages as an option to your guests.
Stop serving alcohol to your guests several hours before the party ends.
Provide your guests with a place to stay overnight in your home.

If you are attending New Year's Eve parties and celebrations:

If you drink, don't drive.
- Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the party or celebration begins.
- If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or get a sober friend or family member to come pick you up.
- Or, stay where you are until you are sober.
Take the keys from someone if you think he/she is too impaired to drive.

The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired don't just end with the potential death, disfigurement, disability, and injury caused by impaired drivers. Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired isn't worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.

What are the Fire Conditions?

2011-12-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

Resolve to be READY

2011-12-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - As 2011 - one of the most active years for disasters in
recent history - comes to a close and Americans get ready to ring in a
new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all
Americans to Resolve to be Ready in the by making a new year's
resolution to be prepared for emergencies.

As a recent report by the National Climatic Data Center highlights,
2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on
record. This year alone, the U.S. experienced its first hurricane
landfall since 2008, the most deadly series of tornadoes since the
1950s, significant earthquakes and severe flooding - hazards that
impacted every region of the country. All of these events have served
as important reminders that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere,
and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to
protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.

Today, FEMA kicked off its annual campaign, Resolve to be Ready in
2012, which urges Americans to make preparedness a priority during the
holiday season by making a new year's resolution to be ready for
disasters or by thinking about preparedness tools for last minute gift
ideas.

"One of the most important lessons we can take away from this year is
that disasters can impact all of us, no matter what part of the
country we live in," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "While we
can't control where or when they might hit, we can take steps in
advance to prepare for them - efforts that can go a long way toward
protecting our families, homes and business. Resolving to be Ready in
2012 could be the most important pledge you make this year."
By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance,
Americans can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families,
homes or businesses. To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve
or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists, and
guidelines about how to put together a kit, make a plan, and stay
informed.

Resolve to be Ready in 2012 is a nationwide effort to increase
awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses, and
communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the New
Year. This effort is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with
Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. For more information, visit
Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov or follow the campaign on Twitter using
the hashtags #ready2012 and #resolve.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to
ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and
improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
###

Fire Safety Tips

2011-12-15T08:04:00.000-08:00

From the United States Fire Administration, these timely tips can help with your Holiday safety.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie segments demonstrating how fast a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames. Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of Your Tree
Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

Maintain Your Holiday Lights
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
Artificial Christmas Trees
If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

Avoid Using Lit Candles
If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

Red Cross Holiday Safety Tips

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends at the American Red Cross, here's some holiday safety tips for you.

Prepare your vehicle for traveling to grandmother’s house. Make an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type), compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares, tow rope.
Drive your sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm, but if you must, keep your gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, route and when you expect to arrive.
Help prevent the spread of the flu. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.
Prevent hypothermia by following Santa’s lead. Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat.Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed; monitor safe play and actively engage your child; and some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.
Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts over an open fire. Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking and be alert. Keep anything flammable—such as potholders, towels or curtains—away from your stove top.Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
Be a lifesaver during the holidays and always. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should be trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED. Your local Red Cross chapter has conveniently scheduled courses and can have you trained and certified in a few hours.
Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. When you designate a driver who won’t be drinking, you help make sure a good party doesn’t turn into a tragedy. A good host ensures there are non-alcoholic beverages available for drivers. The designated driver should not drink any alcoholic beverages, not even one.
When the weather outside is frightful, heat your home safely. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month.
Cut down on your heating bills without being a Grinch. Get your furnace cleaned by a professional; change the filters regularly. Make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture. Close off any rooms you aren’t using and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround your windows and door moldings. Put up storm windows or storm doors to keep the cold out.
Don’t move a muscle, until they buckle. Each person in your vehicle should have their seatbelts securely fastened before driving off. Ensure children are buckled up and their car seats are installed appropriately based on their age and size. Children 12 and under should always sit in the back seat.
Resolve to Be Red Cross Ready in the New Year. You can take one or more actions to prepare now, should you or your family face an emergency in 2010. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

Merry Christmas from your friends at Altus Emergency Management.

Taking Shelter from the Storm

2011-11-18T05:17:00.000-08:00

The City of Altus does not provide community storm shelters. In the past many citizens were injured due to traffic accidents, slick roads, wind, hail, and lightning while trying to get to a public shelter during severe weather.

In an effort to protect the citizens, the City of Altus recommends sheltering in place or with neighbors during an emergency. The best choice for sheltering would be a safe room or storm shelter of your own or with a neighbor.

The State of Oklahoma has a grant program to help citizens pay for installation of storm shelters or safe rooms. All residents in the State of Oklahoma are eligible to apply, but funds are limited.

Grants for installation of storm shelters or safe rooms are awarded prior to construction and shelters must be built to FEMA specifications. Shelters already completed or under construction are not eligible. Registration for the grants may be done online at https://www.ok.gov/OEM/saferoom/app/index.php

Information on FEMA specifications for storm shelter and safe rooms may be found at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1536 Additional resources are on the National Safe Shelter Association web site http://nssa.cc/

Once your safe shelter is built, register with your local Fire Department. In the event there is a collapse or debris blown on top of your shelter so you can't escape, rescue personnel will know where to look.

What are the Fire Conditions?

2011-11-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

There's a reason ...

2011-11-12T17:34:00.000-08:00

This is why one registers their cellar location with your local fire department.

This home owner was briefly trapped in this cellar. Friends had to
cut the tree away from the door.

Do you own a cellar? Does your fire department know you have one?

What happens after a tornado?

2011-11-08T18:25:00.000-08:00

A survey team from the National Weather Service and emergency management tour the area.

The National Weather Service is interested in data that can be used to help prepare warnings and better buildings. The Emergency Manager is interested in knowing if you are OK, if you have a place to stay, if you have insurance, and help you process what has happened to you.

Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, left, and Jeff Rector, Tillman County Emergency Manager, survey the scene around a damaged home near Tipton, Oklahoma.

Watching Disasters

2011-11-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Learn from the mistakes of others, because you won't live long enough
to make them all yourself is a popular saying in emergency
preparedness circles.

As Altus residents observed this weekend, earthquakes DO happen in Oklahoma.
The Earthquake zone in Oklahoma is generally along I-35 but the Meers
area has a dormant fault nearby. Dormant means it could shift any day
now.

At http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/preparedness_home.shtm,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers these tips:

Make your home safer to be in during earthquakes and more resistant to
earthquake damage by assessing its structure and contents. Depending
on when and how it was designed and built, the structure you live in
may have weaknesses that make it more vulnerable to earthquakes.

Common examples include structures not anchored to their foundations
or having weak crawl space walls, unbraced pier-and-post foundations,
or unreinforced masonry walls or foundations.

If you own your home, find and correct any such weaknesses, yourself
or with professional help. If you are a renter, ask what has been done
to strengthen the property against earthquakes, and consider this
information in deciding where to rent. If you are building or buying a
home, make sure that it complies with the seismic provisions of your
local building code.

What is in your home can be as or more dangerous and damage-prone than
the structure itself. Any unsecured objects that can move, break, or
fall as an earthquake shakes your home are potential safety hazards
and potential property losses. Walk through each room of your home and
make note of these items, paying particular attention to tall, heavy,
or expensive objects such as bookcases, home electronics, appliances
(including water heaters), and items hanging from walls or ceilings.

Secure these items with flexible fasteners, such as nylon straps, or
with closed hooks, or by relocating them away from beds and seating,
to lower shelves, or to cabinets with latched doors. Ensure that
plumbers have installed flexible connectors on all gas appliances.

Please ... Please ... Please do not call 911, UNLESS it is an emergency.
http://www.911.gov/whencall.html offers that an emergency is any
situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire
department or ambulance. Examples include:

A fire
A crime, especially if in progress
A car crash, especially if someone is injured
A medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious, gasping for
air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest
pain, having uncontrollable bleeding, or any other symptoms that
require immediate medical attention

It's also a good idea to know the number to your emergency services
should 911 be jammed or otherwise not working.

If you don't study disasters, when you travel to areas where those disasters are real, will you know what to do?

What are the Fire Conditions?

2011-10-02T05:25:00.000-07:00

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information