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WHAT IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH?

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. NPM is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

September 2010 is the seventh annual NPM. This year will focus on encouraging Americans to work together to take concrete actions toward emergency preparedness. We are encouraging all Americans to join the readiness team and truly help themselves, their neighbors, and their communities be Ready.

• NPM Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Groups can register to become an NPM Coalition Member by visiting ready.gov and clicking on the NPM banner.

• In 2009, nearly 2,700 organizations joined the Ready Campaign in promoting the readiness message across the country in homes, schools, businesses, and communities to highlight the importance of individual and community public emergency preparedness throughout September.

• During NPM, Coalition Members share preparedness information with their members, customers, employees, and communities. Members spearhead activities that encourage specific steps for individual, neighborhood, and community preparedness.

• 
  Throughout the year, the Ready Campaign promotes individual emergency preparedness. Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign, produced in partnership with The Advertising Council, to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

• The Campaign’s Web sites (http://www.ready.gov/ and http://www.listo.gov/) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY, TTY 1-800-462-7585, and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide Americans with free emergency preparedness information.

• Citizen Corps is FEMA's grassroots strategy to bring together government and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience. Local Citizen Corps Councils enable collaborative planning between government and civic leaders and provide localized support for: outreach and educational efforts to the public; training and exercises that effectively integrate all sectors of the community; and volunteer programs that augment the full range of emergency response services. For more information about Citizen Corps, visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/.

Talladega County EMA Encourages You to Get Ready During National Preparedness Month

The Talladega County EMA is proud to be participating in the seventh annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. Sponsored by the Ready Campaign, NPM is a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies.

Launched in February 2003, Ready is a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to take these simple steps: get an emergency supply kit; make a family emergency plan; and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses; and get involved in community efforts such as Citizen Corps.

“Our goal is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action before disaster strikes,” said EMA Director Deborah Gaither.

The EMA keeps disaster preparedness brochures for families, businesses, pet owners and seniors on hand year round to help citizens plan for disasters. Contact the EMA at 256-761-2125 or log onto their website, http://www.talladegaema.org/ for more preparedness information.

For more information about the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit http://www.ready.gov/ or call 1-800-BE-READY.

Fireworks Safety for the 4th

During New Year and the Fourth of July holiday people often celebrate with fireworks, but if used improperly fireworks can cause serious injury or burns. To ensure a safe holiday the Alabama Department of Public Health recommends that parents protect children from injury by preventing them from using fireworks and leaving it to the professionals.

According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign almost 5,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in the emergency room for fireworks-related injuries each year. Sixty-five percent of these injuries occur during the month surrounding the Fourth of July.

The safest way to enjoy a fireworks display is at a community-sanctioned, licensed event. Alabama law allows only consumer fireworks, formerly known as class C fireworks. Some municipalities (including Montgomery) outlaw fireworks altogether. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission prevents large numbers of hazardous fireworks from reaching consumers. Illegal mail order kits contain chemical mixtures that can explode unexpectedly and violently. M-80s, cherry bombs and quarter sticks are so highly explosive that they have been banned by federal law since 1966. Working with the U.S. Customs Service since 1988, CPSC has seized or detained more than 400 million hazardous fireworks at docks across the country.

If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Discuss safety procedures with children, including teaching them to “stop, drop and roll.”
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Never aim or throw fireworks at another person.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials.
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.

Severe Weather Media Release 04/23/2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: APRIL 23, 2010
TIME: 9:00 A.M.

TCEMA Contact:
Steve Dover
Public Information Officer
Telephone: 256-761-2125
Fax: 256-480-2615


SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND

Talladega, AL – With the potential for severe weather this weekend, the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency is reminding all citizens to begin making plans now for the possibility of severe weather this weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham is predicting strong storms, large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes for most of Central Alabama this weekend.

Your safety is your responsibility. Decide now what you will do if severe weather strike. This weekend is shaping up to be a severe weather event. Anyone with outdoor activities planned for Saturday should remain weather aware. Stay close to a source of up to date weather information. Remember, now is the time to prepare for severe weather. The decisions you make now could save your life or the lives of your family.

Check the batteries in your NOAA weather radio and know your local emergency broadcast stations for television and radio.

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What were you doing 12 years ago today?

Today is the 12th anniversary of the EF5 tornado that killed 32 people in Jefferson County. Two more died from another tornado from the same parent storm in St. Clair County.




Use anniversaries like the one we remember today to make sure you have what you need.

1) Be Informed - know what can happen

2) Make a Plan - know what you will do when it does happen

3) Make a Kit - know where your emergency supplies are so you can get to them quickly

For more information or help contact our office, (256)761-2125. Be Ready ALLWAYS!!!

Tornado vs. Train (who do you think wins?)

Severe weather season is here. It is up to you to be prepared when severe weather strikes. Do you have a plan? Do you have a NOAA Emergency Alert Radio? Do you know where you are going to go when the sirens sound? Do you have an Emergency Supply Kit to take with you? Do you know the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING?

We can help you get ready for severe weather. Contact our office by phone at 256.761.2125, email us or check out our website, http://www.talladegaema.org/ for more details.

Another helpful link: Severe Weather Awareness Booklet

CSEPP SIRENS WILL SOUND FRIDAY

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: JANUARY 13, 2010
TIME: 2:00 P.M.

TCEMA Contact:
Steve Dover, Public Information Officer Telephone: 256-761-2125
Fax: 256-480-2615

CSEPP SIRENS WILL SOUND FRIDAY

Talladega, AL – The Talladega County Emergency Management Agency will be conducting audible testing of ALL outdoor warning sirens this Friday, January 15, 2010. Residents in various areas of the county will hear the test tone during this time. These tests are being conducted as part of the EMA’s recent upgrade in its siren activation software.

The audible tests on Friday will be conducted at different times during daylight hours. Technicians from McCord’s Communication will work in conjunction with the EMA to perform these tests. The EMA will try to limit the duration of the activations but there may be several instances throughout the day. Please note that this scheduled testing may be cancelled due to inclement weather or other major events.

The EMA normally tests the CSEPP sirens on the first Tuesday of each month at 4pm (weather permitting). However, with the new software, the EMA will now be testing CSEPP sirens along with all outdoor warning sirens in Childersburg, Oak Grove, Sylacauga and Sycamore on the first Tuesday of each month. Previously, Childersburg and Sylacauga tested their sirens independent of the EMA.

Residents should be aware that this is only a test. For more information, contact the EMA at 256.761.2125.###