Summer Storm Wrap 2011-6 12/28/11 3:49 PM Page 1
American Red Cross Citizens Corps Council/Voluntary Organizations
Emergency Contact Card Active in Disaster of Frederick County, MD
Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed
Directions:
“Making our communities safer and better prepared to respond to any kind of disaster”
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH
• Print out a card for every member of your household.
• Fill in your emergency contact information.
• Carry this card with you to reference in the event of a
diaster or other emergency.
Be prepared to receive and take action for these types of emergency alerts:
Advisory Are you prepared for these warnings when issued?
Highlights special conditions that are less serious than a warning. They Do you have the following supplies and plans in place?
are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is
not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or
IN AN EMERGENCY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
formula, baby food, diapers) • Games and
property.
activities for children • Pet supplies (collar,
CAN BE FOUND AT THESE SOURCES:
Watch leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl) • Two-way
radios • Extra set of car keys and house keys
A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic • Manual can opener
These sources provide information in the event of an emergency, event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or
Meet with your family or household members.
which is one of the reasons it is very important to have a battery-powered radio. timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so
Check out these sources for information: that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. X Discuss how to prepare and respond to
emergencies that are most likely to happen
WFMD 930 AM Warning where you live, learn, work and play.
WFRE 99.9 FM A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is X Identify responsibilities for each member
WAFY KEY 103.1 FM occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A of your household and plan to work
warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. together as a team.
Frederick County Government - TV, Ch. 19
Plan what to do in case you are separated
Frederick County Public Schools - TV, Ch. 18 Statement At a minimum, have the basic supplies during an emergency
City of Frederick, Ch. 99 A statement provides follow-up information on watches and warnings. listed below. X Choose two places to meet:
NBC 25 WHAG - TV Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry • Right outside your home in case of
National Terrorism Advisory System emergency preparedness kit that you can
The Frederick News-Post - www.newspost.com a sudden emergency, such as a fire
The National Terrorism Advisory System, or NTAS, replaces the color- use at home or take with you in case you • Outside your neighborhood, in
coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This new system will must evacuate. • Water—one gallon per case you cannot return home or
For more information on disaster and emergency preparedness please visit: more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by person, per day (3-day supply for are asked to evacuate
providing timely, detailed information to the public, government evacuation, 2-week supply for home) • X Choose an out-of-area emergency
FredrickCountyMD.gov/READY Food—non perishable, easy-to-prepare
agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the contact person. It may be easier to text
RedCross.org items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week or call long distance if local phone
private sector. When there is credible information about a threat, an NTAS
supply for home) • Flashlight • Battery- lines are overloaded or out of service.
Ready.gov Alert will be shared with the American public. It may include specific powered or hand-crank radio
information, if available, about the nature of the threat, including the Everyone should have emergency
(NOAAWeather Radio, if possible) • Extra contact information in writing or
geographic region, mode of transportation, or critical infrastructure batteries • First aid kit • Medications (7-day programmed into their cell phones.
potentially affected by the threat, as well as steps that individuals and supply) and medical items • Multipurpose
communities can take to protect themselves and help prevent, mitigate or tool • Sanitation and personal hygiene Plan what to do if you have to evacuate
respond to the threat. The advisory will clearly indicate whether the items • Copies of personal documents X Decide where you would go and what
threat is Elevated, if we have no specific information about the timing or (medication list and pertinent medical route you would take to get there. You
location, or Imminent, if we believe the threat is impending or very soon. information, proof of address, deed/lease to may choose to go to a hotel/motel,
home, passports, birth certificates, stay with friends or relatives in a safe
Imminent Threat Alert insurance policies) • Cell phone with location or go to an evacuation shelter
Warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the chargers • Family and emergency contact if necessary.
United States. information • Extra cash • Emergency X Practice evacuating your home twice a
blanket • Map(s) of the area year. Drive your planned evacuation
Elevated Threat Alert
Consider the needs of all family members route and plot alternate routes on your
Warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States and add supplies to your kit. map in case roads are impassable.
It recognizes that Americans all share responsibility for the nation’s Suggested items to help meet additional X Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone
security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist needs are: • Medical supplies (hearing aids list of pet-friendly hotels/motels and
It is also important to communicate with your family during emergencies. attack in the United States and what they should do. with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, animal shelters that are along your
syringes, cane) • Baby supplies (bottles, evacuation routes.
This Emergency Contact Card can assist in your family emergency communication plan:
Summer Storm Wrap 2011-6 12/28/11 3:49 PM Page 2
The following EAS messages are used in our When the sirens are activated, turn on your 2-1-1
area. When you hear the EAS alert tone radio or television to obtain further
please stop and listen for the message. It information; do not call 9-1-1. In the event of a disaster, the community can call Subscription/Proprietary Alert Systems:
may not be a test! 2-1-1 Maryland to find services such as shelter There are many organizations that offer subscription services to receive
The Outdoor Warning Sirens will be activated and other disaster related information. 2-1-1 will alerts. Some examples are The Weather Channel, Weatherbug, and
for the following situations: work with the local Emergency Operation Center regional broadcast news stations such as WRC, WTTG, WUSA. You
EAS Event (NWR-SAME) Codes * Tornado Warnings - Issued by the National Weather Service to provide accurate, timely information to callers would need to contact these providers directly to sign up for the
for Frederick County or sighted by public safety personnel and will help to take the non-emergency calls for service and there may be fees associated with the subscription.
Weather-Related Events
Frederick County. There are also some proprietary services operated by larger companies.
Blizzard Warning * Locally - For an incident with the potential to jeopardize the
2-1-1 is as an easy-to-remember phone number An example for Fredrick County would be Frederick County Public
safety and well being of the residents of a specific
Coastal Flood Watch to call for information and referral to health and Schools “Find Out First”. While Find Out First is used mostly for school
jurisdiction or general population occupying an area in the
human services. Answered by trained Call related events it will also broadcast emergency notices that affect the
Coastal Flood Warning immediate vicinity of a significant incident. school system. You can enroll at www.fcps.org.
How emergency messages may be Dust Storm Warning * Testing - Siren tests will be done at least quarterly and
Specialists, we assess the callers’ needs and link
them to the resources in their community using Your employer may also offer a similar service or your local community
received by you in Frederick County advertised in advance by the local jurisdiction or facility. a comprehensive database of federal, state and may use a service such as Nixle to communicate with you. Please refer
Flash Flood Watch
and information they may contain: local services - both government and to those system providers for more details on enrollment and use.
Flash Flood Warning
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards: nonprofit. Our goal is to cut through the Many websites also offer alerting features, most are passive in nature
COMING SOON! Flash Flood Statement confusion and link callers to the services
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) and require you to go to that website and follow a link to receive the
ALERT Frederick County: Flood Watch they need. For example, 2-1-1 Maryland information. Please refer to the back page of this publication for web
is a nationwide network of radio stations provides information about these kinds of addresses of several websites that can provide you with emergency
Frederick County Division of Emergency Flood Warning broadcasting continuous weather information resources on a daily basis: messages.
Management is implementing ALERT Frederick
Flood Statement directly from the nearest National Weather Understanding Sheltering in Place
County, a new emergency alert and notification * Basic human needs: food and clothing,
Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather and Evacuation:
tool. ALERT Frederick County will provide you High Wind Watch shelters, rent and utility assistance.
Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other
greatly enhanced opportunities to receive In the extremely unlikely event a County evacuation order is issued,
High Wind Warning hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. * Physical and mental health: health
emergency and community notifications for communication to the public is of the utmost importance. An
insurance programs for adults and
locations you have chosen. This solution allows Hurricane Watch Working with the Federal Communication evacuation order would specify the perimeters of the area to be
children, Medicaid and Medicare, evacuated as well as directing residents to available shelters. Residents
you to customize how and where a notification Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System ,
Hurricane Warning maternal health, medical information of areas not in the defined area might be directed to stay where they
message is received, regardless of where you are. NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it
Hurricane Statement lines, crisis intervention services, support are (shelter-in-place).
your single source for comprehensive weather
Residents will be able to sign up to get alerts on groups, counseling, drug and alcohol
Severe Thunderstorm Watch and emergency information. In conjunction with Frederick County has identified numerous facilities to serve as shelters.
their cell phone, work phone, text message, e- services.
Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and These locations are not published in advance as many factors will
mail, home phone, and more. You can also Severe Thunderstorm Warning * Employment support: job training,
other public officials, NWR also broadcasts determine which shelter(s) would be opened. Some of these factors
receive alerts about emergencies that may affect transportation, education programs. include the size and severity of the emergency, the location of the
Severe Weather Statement warning and post-event information for all types
your residence, workplace, child's school, or other emergency and the numbers of people requiring shelter. All pre-
of hazards – including natural (such as * Support for older Americans and people
areas within the boundaries of Frederick County. Special Marine Warning designated shelters are ADA accessible. When the determination is
earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such with disabilities: adult day care, telephone
To sign-up visit Special Weather Statement as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety made as to which shelter(s) to open, the community will be informed
wellness checks, meals, respite care, home via traditional media outlets, the County’s website, County Cable
www.frederickcountymd.gov/alert (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). health care and transportation services.
Tornado Watch Channel 19, Notify Me, and the County’s Public Information Line 301-
Emergency Alert System: Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather * Support for children, youth and families: 600-3000.
Tornado Warning
Service," NWR is provided as a public service by childcare, after-school programs, Head
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a Tropical Storm Watch Fortunately an incident in Frederick County that would require
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Start, family resource centers, mentoring, evacuation is very unlikely. However, you should still make sure you
national warning system in the United States put Tropical Storm Warning Administration (NOAA), part of the Department tutoring and protective services. have a plan in place that will enable you to evacuate. It may be very
into place on January 1, 1997, when it of Commerce. NWR includes 1000 transmitters,
Tsunami Watch 2-1-1 Maryland is state-wide, operates 24 hours a difficult for the County to provide transportation in a large scale
superseded the Emergency Broadcast System covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, evacuation. Individuals are encouraged to make plans in advance in the
(EBS). In addition to alerting the public of local Tsunami Warning Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. day/7 days a week/52 weeks a year, and is able to
event of an emergency where an evacuation is required. During an
weather emergencies such as tornadoes and Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio access interpretation services for 150+ anguages.
Winter Storm Watch emergency, the County’s resources may be scarce.
flash floods, the official EAS is designed to enable receiver or scanner capable of picking up the Locally, 2-1-1 Maryland is operated by the Mental
the President of the United States to speak to the Winter Storm Warning signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public Health Association of Frederick County and takes
United States within 10 minutes, but the service band at these seven frequencies (MHz): calls from Frederick, Washington, Allegany, During certain emergencies, local Authorities may ask or require you
nationwide federal EAS has never been activated. Garrett and the northern portion of Montgomery to shelter in place.
162.400 • 162.425 • 162.450 • 162.475
A national EAS test is planned for November 9, County. _ Sheltering in place is taking immediate shelter wherever you are—at
162.500 • 162.525 • 162.5
2011. The EAS regulations and standards are Outdoor Warning Sirens: home, work, school or in between.
governed by the Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau of the FCC. EAS is jointly Outdoor Warning Sirens are located in the _ Emergency personnel advise or require sheltering in place during rare
municipalities of Myersville, Middletown and instances when the safest action for you and others is to remain at your
coordinated by FEMA, the Federal
Emmitsburg, as well as at the National Fire current location.
Communications Commission (FCC), and the
National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS). Academy, Mount Saint Mary's University and Ft. _ These instances include events such as a gas leak, chemical spill or
Detrick. The system is not designed to be heard nuclear accident.
The EAS is used on AM, FM and Land Mobile inside every structure and also differ from sirens
Radio Service, as well as VHF, UHF and cable _ Local officials or authorities on the scene are the best source of
used by fire and rescue companies to alert their information for your particular situation. Following their instructions
television including low-power stations. Digital members.
television and cable providers, along with Sirius during a shelter-in-place emergency will help keep you and your loved
The siren will be activated to alert the public of a ones safe.
XM satellite radio, IBOC, DAB and digital radio
broadcasters have been required to participate in specific situation that is likely to occur or is _ During a shelter-in-place emergency, authorities provide information
the EAS since December 31, 2006. DirecTV, Dish currently occurring. When the siren sounds, the on TV, the radio and other forms of electronic communication in order
Network and all other DBS providers have been tone will be followed by a voice message that to help you understand how to remain safe.
required to participate since May 31, 2007. announces the reason for the activation, such as _ In spite of challenging circumstances, most individuals who have
Messages in the EAS are composed of four parts: a tornado warning, a request to shelter in place, sheltered in place have successfully coped with the emergency. You
a digitally encoded SAME header, an attention or a test of the system. The sirens may be can, too.
signal, an audio announcement, and a digitally activated simultaneously or individually based on
encoded end-of-message marker. the area(s) affected.