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E-Newsletter
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"Make Every
Minute Count"
Preparing,
preventing and responding to disasters
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Issue 9 |
October 2006 |
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In this Issue: (click an
article) |
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New
Campaign Launched |
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Ohio
Citizen Corps launched its new statewide branding campaign
“Make Every Minute Count” at the Ohio State
Fair to recruit new volunteers to serve in emergencies.
The theme is a continuation of the television and radio
ads produced last fall. All materials distributed across
the state will have the same look and feel, creating a consistency
for the program. The campaign was also designed to support
county Citizen Corps Councils and Medical Reserve Corps
units with customizable templates for local information.
The serveohio.org Web site, the home of Ohio Citizen Corps,
will also undergo significant revision with a new vivid
look and updated features including a calendar system for
trainings and events.
For information
or to order new materials, contact Paul Bender at paul.bender@ocsc.state.oh.us |
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Ohio
Citizen Corps Funding Increases
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Ohio Citizen Corps
funding increased 29% to 583,359 in the 2006 Homeland Security
Grant Program. 2005 funds were used to support existing Citizen
Corps Councils and to develop new councils. The 2006 grant proposal
will continue to fund existing councils and the establishment
of new councils toward a goal of one in each county. The priority
for 2006 spending is interoperable communications and prevention
activities. Below is a list of specific county awards:
| County |
Amount
Awarded |
| Athens |
$10,300 |
| Auglaize |
$4,100 |
| Butler |
$10,000 |
| Carroll |
$5,000 |
| Champaign |
$9,500 |
| Clark |
$13,000 |
| Clermont |
$11,300 |
| Columbiana |
$7,500 |
| Coshocton |
$6,000 |
| Cuyahoga |
$7,000 |
| Darke |
$4,950 |
| Defiance |
$10,750 |
| Delaware |
$6,000 |
| Erie |
$8,000 |
| Fairfield |
$9,000 |
| Franklin |
$14,500 |
| Fulton |
$12,000 |
| Gallia |
$10,300 |
| Greene |
$6,500 |
| Guernsey |
$8,500 |
| Hamilton |
$6,250 |
| Harrison |
$4,000 |
| Henry |
$9,700 |
| Hocking |
$9,500 |
| Huron |
$4,125 |
| Jackson |
$10,300 |
| Jefferson |
$6,700 |
| Knox |
$8,800 |
| Lake |
$5,435 |
| Licking |
$4,000 |
| Logan |
$6,800 |
| Lorain |
$4,000 |
| Lucas |
$8,400 |
| Madison |
$10,500 |
| Mahoning |
$8,500 |
| Medina |
$4,090 |
| Mercer |
$4,415 |
| Montgomery |
$10,500 |
| Morrow |
$8,250 |
| Muskingum |
$4,000 |
| Noble |
$7,000 |
| Paulding |
$8,955 |
| Perry |
$8,644 |
| Pike |
$4,000 |
| Preble |
$8,200 |
| Putnam |
$9,400 |
| Richland |
$12,143 |
| Scioto |
$12,000 |
| Seneca |
$10,500 |
| Shelby |
$6,400 |
| Summit |
$4,000 |
| Trumbull |
$4,000 |
| Tuscarawas |
$4,500 |
| Union |
$10,350 |
| Van Wert |
$11,100 |
| Vinton |
$10,700 |
| Washington |
$6,400 |
| Williams |
$4,000 |
| Wood |
$10,900 |
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Flooding
Hits, Ohio Citizen Corps Responds |
| Massive
flooding hit parts of Northwest and Northeast Ohio this summer,
Ohio Citizen Corps sprung into action to assist emergency officials
and beleaguered residents.
In the Toledo area, a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) was established
to process volunteers willing to help residents with flooded basements.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) were also activated
to lend a hand to elderly citizens who could not move the debris
from their homes. More than 40 homes were completely cleaned.
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Jeanette Hrovatich
(middle) and CERT Volunteers during the flood cleanup in
Toledo. |
Third load
of debris from a
flooded basement. |
In Northeast Ohio, following record flooding in Lake County,
the EMA director requested the support of Citizen Corps to set
up a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC). The VRC processed volunteers
wanting to aid residents in the clean-up effort as well as a provided
a location flooded residents could ask for help. The VRC utilized
the assistance of sixty-six volunteers to answer thirty-four requests
for aid.
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Ohio
Citizen Corps Teams with Wal*Mart and other State Agencies
to promote Preparedness |
Ohio Citizen Corps joined forces with the Ohio Department
of Public Safety, Ohio Homeland Security and the Ohio Emergency
Management Agency to heighten awareness during National Preparedness
Month, which runs during September. A statewide partnership
with Wal*Mart was established to |
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Pictured from left to right are
representatives of Ohio’s National Preparedness Month
Coalition: Paul Bender, Ohio Citizen Corps; Jeff Jordan,
Montgomery County EMA director; Kevin
Stover, Dayton Wal-Mart; and Nancy Dragani, Ohio EMA executive
director.
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encourage
citizens to build a preparedness kit. Wal-Mart ensures the
public that its stores have everything needed to organize
emergency preparedness kits. Events were held in at Wal*Mart
stores in Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland.
Click
Here to View Television Coverage from Dayton
National Preparedness
Month is a nationwide coordinated effort held each September
to encourage
Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies
in their homes, businesses and schools.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sponsors
National Preparedness Month 2006, which
is focusing on family emergency preparedness.
The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public
awareness about the importance of
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preparing for emergencies,
to include natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks,
and to encourage individuals to take action to prepare themselves
and their families. The month provides Americans with a variety
of opportunities to learn more about emergency preparedness. Throughout
the year, the Department of Homeland Security promotes individual
emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign and Citizen
Corps as part of a broader national effort. Ready is a national
public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising
Council that is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare
for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and
potential terrorist attacks. Citizen Corps and the Department
of Homeland Security’s’ grassroots effort localizes
preparedness messages and provides opportunities for citizens
to get emergency response training; participate in community exercises;
and volunteer to support local first responders. Visit www.ready.gov
for additional information on emergency preparedness.
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Volunteers
used in
Mass Disaster Exercise |
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Great American Ballpark
in Cincinnati was the site of a mass disaster exercise to test
first responders in the Tri-State area. First responders from
Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana conducted a full-scale disaster exercise
on Cincinnati’s central riverfront. The exercise simulated
a terrorist attack at the Great American Ball Park. Through the
combined efforts of local, state and federal agencies and organizations
throughout the tri-state region, the full-scale exercise gave
emergency management and response personnel an opportunity to
practice disaster plans and evaluate their response to a large-scale
incident. The exercise was the culmination of several years of
planning by local officials representing jurisdictions covering
a geographic area that spans 12 counties in Southwest Ohio, Southeast
Indiana and Northern Kentucky. During the exercise, officials
used artificial smoke and loud noises to simulate the elements
of an actual disaster.
The exercise could
not have happened without the help of thousands of volunteers
to play the role of the crowd and victims. 200 people were decontaminated,
2,500 people were evacuated from the stadium, 500 “victims”
and 32 emergency medical vehicles transported injured “
victims” to the local hospitals.
The Tri-State / Hamilton
County Field Hospital, along with the Tri-State Medical Reserve
Corps were also utilized during the exercise.
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Citizen
Corps Ready to help with Weather Radio Distribution to Schools
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Every public school
in Ohio received a Public Alert Weather Radio through a grant
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Education and Homeland
Security. More than 80,000 radios were shipped to public schools
across the country to augment the 2005 pilot program that was
conducted in two states and 20 urban areas (Cincinnati schools
received public alert radios last year). The radios were shipped
directly to the schools.
Ohio Citizen Corps
was given the responsibility to provide technical support to school
principals. Each radio can be programmed with a specific code,
so the radio will alert for the school's particular county. Ohio
Citizen Corps used its network of resources to establish a connection
between the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)and the Buckeye
School Administrators Association (BASA) to ensure any questions
regarding programming the radios would be resolved.
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CERT
Training in Franklin County |
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Franklin County CERT
program took a large step forward with an exercise in Grove City.
Nearly 80 volunteers participated in the exercise including CERT
members, instructors, and victims. The exercise provided members
the opportunity to work in a disaster situation with other CERT
members they had never met. The exercise was a success as members
came together to overcome obstacles. Special thanks goes out to
the Southwestern City Schools for use of the high school, the
Columbus Area Chapter of the American Red Cross for providing
refreshments and mental health personnel, and the CERT attendees
from the Delaware County RACE organization.
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CERT
Train-the-Instructor Course |
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Where?
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), Environmental
Maintenance & Services Center. 4747 East 49th Street,
Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio 44125
When?
Saturday & Sunday, December 9th and 10th, 2006
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.
How do I register?
Go to http://emaweb.ema.state.oh.us/training/
to sign up as soon as possible. Spaces are limited. If this
is your first time signing up for a course through our website,
you must first register (by clicking “Register”
from the menu). Once registered, log in to the system (by
clicking “Login” from the menu and entering
your e-mail address and password), choose “Course
Listings” from the menu and click on the course number
in the “Course No.” column to sign up for the
course.
This course is sponsored by the Ohio Emergency Management
Agency in cooperation with the Cuyahoga County Division
of Emergency Services. There is no cost to participants
for the course. Refreshments and lunch will be provided
on both days. Students coming from over 45 miles away from
the training site are eligible for lodging at no charge
for two nights (the night before the first day of training
and the next night) and can indicate lodging requirements
during online registration.
Course Description:
This two-day course is intended to provide the knowledge
and skills participants need to organize, train, and implement
a CERT program that prepares citizens to assist in emergency
response activities in a local community. CERT is one of
several Citizen Corps programs that focus on citizen participation
in community safety and preparedness. The course prepares
students to teach the basic CERT Course (FEMA Course G317)
by demonstrating instructional methods and familiarizing
students with the eight instructional modules of that course.
The course also covers basic considerations for developing
and implementing a CERT program. Those completing this Train-the-Instructor
course will be provided copies of all FEMA CERT materials
in hardcopy and electronically on CD-ROM and a well-equipped
CERT kit.
Target Audience:
This is a course designed for potential CERT trainers and
program managers for the county, local, or department level.
Participants in the Train-the-Instructor course are typically
from first responder organizations, emergency management,
volunteer organizations involved in disasters, or existing
CERT teams wishing to expand a local program. See Prerequisites,
below.
Prerequisites:
Participants should have a working knowledge of the CERT
program and curriculum as this is not a CERT course, but
a course on how to teach the CERT course and establish or
enhance a local preparedness training program. Previous
experience providing and facilitating instruction for adults
is desirable, but not required.
Registrants without a fire, rescue, or disaster preparedness
background are required to have completed the standard 20-hour
CERT course or equivalent experience. Those with a fire,
rescue, and/or disaster preparedness background that have
not taken or taught the CERT course are required to complete
the online FEMA course IS-317 Introduction to Community
Emergency Response Teams available at http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is317.asp
Please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/index.shtm
for additional information on the CERT program and related
training materials
Contact
Information:
For training
website or registration questions, please contact Cathy
Deck, Ohio EMA Training Officer, at 614-889-7168 or cdeck@dps.state.oh.us.
For course or
program information, please contact Rudi Blaser, Ohio EMA
Plans Branch, at 614-799-3825 or rblaser@dps.state.oh.us.
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Tuscarawas County Citizen Corps provides Disaster
Supply Kits to the Community |
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The Tuscarawas County
Citizen Corps, under the direction of the Tuscarawas County
EMA and Harcatus RSVP, distributed more than 500 free emergency
preparedness kits in Dennison and Uhrichsville.
The Tuscarawas County Citizen Corps received a $16,500 award
from the Ohio Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Agencies to complete a community project in the Twin Cities
because Uhrichsville and Dennison are areas where flooding
has caused repeated evacuations.
Each red Tuscarawas County Citizen Corps logo duffel bag
contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, roll-up fleece
blanket, hand sanitizer, flashlight, radio and batteries,
small first aid kit, bottle of water, and pamphlet titled
“Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit.”
Thirteen Citizen Corps volunteers assembled and distributed
the 500 preparedness Kits. |
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Ohio
Citizen Corps Database Report |
| As
of October 1, 2006
The following
tables provide a summary of the volunteer database:
Ohio
Citizen Corps Volunteers
| Ohio
Citizen Corps General Volunteers |
2057 |
| Ohio
Medical Reserve Corps |
2622 |
| Total
OCC / OMRC Database |
4679 |
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Ohio
Medical Reserve Corps Records to Import to Database
- Ohio
Veterinarian Emergency Response
- Local
Medical Reserve Corps Units
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Estimated
(850)
Estimated
(1500) |
| TOTAL
OHIO CITIZEN CORPS VOLUNTEERS |
6437 |
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Ohio
Citizen Corps Participates in Emergency Systems for Advance Registration
of Volunteer Health Professionals Program |
| Ohio
Citizen Corps personnel attended a steering committee meeting
of the Emergency Systems for Advance Registration of Volunteer
Health Professionals Program (ESAR-VHP), which was held at the
Ohio Hospital Association offices.
The steering committee’s purpose is to develop a state-based
ESAR-VHP system, which is an
electronic database of health care personnel who volunteer to
provide aid in an emergency. ESAR-VHP systems must be able to
perform the following:
• Register health volunteers (medical or healthcare professionals
who render aid or perform health
services voluntarily, without pay or remuneration).
• Apply emergency credential standards to registered volunteers.
• Allow for the verification of the identity, credentials
and qualifications of registered volunteers in
an emergency.
There is a need for the system because experience has shown that
in an emergency many individuals - specifically health and medical
providers - are eager and willing to volunteer their services.
Immediately after the attacks on September 11, tens of thousands
of people spontaneously showed up at ground zero in New York to
volunteer their assistance. A large number of these volunteers
arrived to provide medical assistance to victims. In most cases,
authorities were unable to distinguish between those who were
qualified from those who were not.
Similar difficulties have occurred when the country had to respond
to hurricanes, earthquakes and
other mass casualty events. The goal of the ESAR-VHP program is
to eliminate a number of the
significant problems encountered when seeking to use medical and
healthcare volunteers (first
responders) in a complex emergency response situation.
The Ohio Citizen Corps
Database serves as the ESAR-VHP system for the state of Ohio.
For additional information on the ESAR-VHP Subcommittee, contact
David O'Reilly at david.o'reilly@ocsc.state.oh.us
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Tri-State
MRC Kick-Off a Success |
The Tri-state Medical Reserve
Corps held its official “Kick-Off” event at the Xavier University
Cintas Center.
The event consisted of a
two hour presentation on the role and potential function of Medical
Reserve Corps members. Attendees were also able to tour an Alternate
Care Center (mobile hospital) set up in the Cintas Center.
Attendance was very good
as approximately 200 people turned out for this important presentation
and 185 signed up and waited patiently to have their picture taken for
an ID card.
The Tri-state Medical Reserve
Corps is a vitally important resource for our community and identifying
and training those people who would naturally come out to help during
an emergency is crucial.
“We know that many
physicians, nurses, paramedics and other health care providers from
the Greater Cincinnati Tri-state Community will step forward to help
during an emergency. This program is an effort to identify anyone willing
to help, teach them what they need to know before we need them, and
develop a system of notification and response,” said Jerry Lautz,
the Regional Medical Response System Coordinator for Southwest Ohio.
“It is unrealistic
to think the federal or state government will have the resources or
staff to immediately come to our rescue if a disaster strikes our region,”
said Mike Ottaway. “We will need a ready and willing group of
citizens to help maintain the area’s essential services and provide
support to our emergency responders. Regardless of your background or
level of training, becoming a member of the TMRC helps ensure that the
region will be able to sustain itself following a disaster,” said
Ottaway.
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More
Growth! |
We
would like to welcome our five newest units in Coshocton, Henry, Huron,
Paulding and Wood Counties. OMRC now serves 51 counties with 44 MRC
units and more than 4,000 healthcare professionals. Look for even more
expansion in the near future as several counties have applied for official
status.
Click
Here for a Larger Map
Red=MRC Unit
Orange= MRC Regional Unit
Blue = Applied for Application
| Contacts
for New MRC Units |
Coshocton
County MRC
Rebecca Beiter
724 S. Seventh Street
Coshocton, OH 43812
740-622-1426
bbeiter@odh.ohio.gov |
Henry
County MRC
Gloria Arps
1843 Oakwood Avenue
Napoleon, OH 43545
(419)599-5545
garps@henrycohd.org |
Huron
County MRC
Dawn Thomas
180 Milan Ave
Norwalk, OH 44857
419-668-1652
phi@huroncohealth.com |
Paulding
County MRC
Bill Edwards
101 West Perry Street
Paulding, OH 45879
419-399-3921
wedwards@odh.ohio.gov |
Wood
County MRC
Mary Dennis
1840 E Gypsy Lane Rd
Bowling Green, OH 43402
(419-352-8402
mdennis@co.wood.oh.us
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Ohio Veterinary Emergency Responders |
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The OVER
group is a team that includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians,
veterinary assistants, veterinary students, extension agents,
lay personnel, state/federal agriculture employees, and anyone
else that is interested in assisting with an animal emergency
whether that be a natural disaster or a foreign animal disease
outbreak.
• 783 individuals
are involved in the program, consisting of those positions listed
above.
• Training consists
of an orientation and National Incident Management System and
Incident Command System classes.
• Register: contact Erin Ireland at 614-728-6220, or email
eireland@mail.agri.state.oh.us
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PETs
incorporated into Ohio and Ready's preparedness plans |
It’s
been more than a year since hurricanes Katrina and Rita disrupted
and destroyed the lives of thousands residing along the Gulf Coast.
After Hurricane Katrina, many residents refused to evacuate because
they were not permitted to take their pets with them. Federal
and state emergency response offices quickly realized the importance
of disaster preparedness for the entire family - including family
pets.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency Plans Branch is in the initial
states of developing guidelines in plans for animal care. A meeting
will be scheduled with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to review
how the Ohio Veterinary Emergency Responders (OVER) and other
organizations can assist with emergency planning and response
to animals.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed its version
of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act
(H.R. 3858), which requires state and local authorities to consider
the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the
event of a major disaster. The bill passed, 349 to 24."
The Department of
Homeland Security’s Ready campaign and Citizen Corps has
posted a new link on its Web site entitled: Preparing
Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense. Get Ready Now.” According
to the Ready brochure, preparing for your pets is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. PREPARE a pet emergency supply kit (or two). One kit should
have everything you and your pets will need to stay at home (basically,
food, water, medical and sanitary supplies to last for three or
more days).
2. PLAN what to do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the
situation and determine what is needed to ensure your family and
animals’ safety. Plan to take pets with you if you need
to evacuate. You may need to make arrangements with animal shelters;
public reception centers (shelters) usually do not permit pets.
3. STAY INFORMED. Know what types of disasters or emergencies
can affect your region. Know where to find emergency plans established
by your state and local government.
For additional preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.
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Update
Your Information |
Have you recently
moved? Changed you email or phone number? It's time to update your information
on the Ohio Citizen Corps database. It is important to keep your information
current to assist in an efficient, timely response in the event of a
disaster.
To update your
information, log onto www.serveohio.org/CitizenCorps/
then click
the Volunteer
Login (Update Date Your Information) box located at the top,
middle of the page.
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Winter
Safety |
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Winter
Severe Weather Awareness Week is:
November 12-18, 2006
Stay tuned to the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness
Web site: www.ocswa.ohio.gov
for winter weather safety and preparedness information.
The site contains
links and information to help teach citizens how to plan, prepare
for and respond to hazards that typically affect Ohio.
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For
Kids - Ready.gov for Kids |
| Ready
Kids is a tool to help parents and teachers educate children
in grades 4-5 about emergencies and how they can help get their
family prepared. Ready Kids is part of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security's Ready campaign, a national public service
advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans
to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, potential terrorist
attacks and other emergencies. The Ready Kids web site features
age-appropriate, step-by-step instructions on what families
can do to be better prepared and the role kids can play in this
effort.
Visit:
www.ready.gov/kids/
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