Emergency Management

... CAN HELP IN AN EMERGENCY ...

Please Help Us Help You - Update your Information Today. Erie County Department of Public Safety's Emergency Notification Call-Out System can deliver emergency messages to every landline in Erie County, but cell phones, TTY/TDD, and internet phone services require registration. Click here to update your information or add additional emergency contact information so you can be notified in case of a water-related emergency, or other emergencies in your area.
Note: www.eriewater.org is the website utilized for this information.

ERIE COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION SURVEY
Here is the link for the Erie County Hazard Mitigation Survey that will be used to get public participation in the plan: Click here, please.

Erie Co. Dept. of Public Safety

TEXT-TO-911 :: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
As citizens, we all hope we never find ourselves in need of emergency services. However, we can take comfort in knowing that the Erie County Department of Public Safety is doing all they can to ensure our safety.

Recently, Erie County upgraded the emergency response infrastructure & made many life-saving improvements. Erie County is leading the way by implementing cutting edge technology that allows 911 Call Centers to now receive text messages from people in need.

It is increasingly apparent that being able to report an emergency by sending a text message to 911 call centers is important. The National Emergency Number Association's slogan is "Call if you can, text if you can't."

Erie County 911 & other 911 authorities still prefer citizens to make a voice call to 911, if at all possible. Text-to-911 should not take the place of making a voice call to 911.

Eventually, all 911 call centers across the USA will have the ability to receive text messages, but for now, each public safety system must opt in and have the proper infrastructure. According to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), text-to-911 is only available in a limited number of regions. Erie County is one of those select areas, and is ahead of the curve nationally.

- Kathy Dahlkemper
ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

911 Call Center

FIRST RESPONDERS SAMPLING NEW RADIO EQUIPMENT
Emergency responders from around Erie County had the chance on Tuesday to sample new radio equipment coming to area fire & police departments in the coming years. The portable radios, pagers and dispatch consoles will be part of Erie County's $26.5 million next-generation radio system. The new radio equipment is expected to be operational in early 2018.

Currently, fire & police departments throughout the county have no way of efficiently communicating with each other. These new systems would improve communications among emergency personnel throughout Erie County.

The entire system is based on a "Coreless" design, meaning that there is no single point of failure. If one of the system's 17 communications towers goes down, the others won't be affected. Nine towers already exist, and eight will be built on non-taxable land. This whole product purchase process and infrastructure building, plus emergency personnel training, will take several months to complete.

EMS Radio Equipmt

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR EMERGENCIES...
As the nation comes together to help those impacted by recent Hurricanes, Pennsylvania officials are reminding residents that National Preparedness Month began September 1. Throughout the month, households, businesses & communities are encouraged to prepare and plan for emergencies.

Well before emergencies strike, simple steps can be taken to prepare a family, school, workplace or community for any type of incident that would disrupt the day-to-day routine. Citizens are encouraged to visit ReadyPA.org to fin sample checklists, contact lists and other preparedness tools to take advantage of before an emergency occurs. In particular, people should think about loved ones who may have special needs that could inhibit their ability to help themselves.

Follow @ ReadyPA on Twitter & find them on FaceBook >> facebook.com/BeReadyPA, for additional helpful tips & information.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Are you and your family prepared for the next disaster that could impact you and your family? You may download, print & share the Preparedness Calendar below:

Preparedness Calendar (PDF)

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
Please check the websites below for ideas on how to prepare your family to stay safe during various emergency weather events:

www.noaa.gov

https://weather.com/safety/winter

weatherreadynation/news

Articles of interest include:
Know Your Risk . Make a Plan . Build a Kit . Stay Tuned for Weather Alerts . Be An Example . Just the Beginning

KNOW 9-1-1 KNOWS...
Register a Household Profile with the local 9-1-1 Center so they can provide faster and better response in the event of an emergency at your home. This service is free. You may visit safetown.org for more information.

You may download / print the flyer below:
Know9-1-1Knows

CONELWAY REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Public safety is a primary responsibility of government and the ultimate responsibility for emergency management preparedness has been thrust upon local government officials by Title 35, the Emergency Management Act.

Action was taken in 2012 by the Wayne Township Board of Supervisors, as they entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Concord Township, Elgin Borough, Venango Township, Amity Township, and the City of Corry to expand the Conelway Regional Emergency Management Agency (CREMA) to assume responsibility for response to any natural or man-made disaster emergencies within their geographical area.

Each municipality will provide financial support for the Conelway Regional Emergency Management Agency, probably based upon a per capita basis. The Agency will establish, equip and staff a primary Regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC.)

On October 16, 2014, Governor Corbett appointed Lyn Wittmer to serve as Emergency Management Coordinator for the Conelway Regional Emergency Management Agency. Lyn is now actively pursuing the required training and working with the member municipalities to develop emergency preparedness plans.

Emergency Preparedness

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY?
In an emergency many hands are needed. The Agency will need a list of persons who can volunteer to assist the emergency operations staff with communication, route & special alert notifications, evacuation transport and other tasks as determined in the field. If you are willing to serve your community in this capacity, please call Jill at 663-1663.

PUBLIC SAFETY
PennDOT has launched two voluntary programs aimed at saving the lives of Pennsylvanians in emergency situations - The Yellow Dot and Emergency Contact information programs. Both of these programs speak for people when they cannot speak for themselves, so medical concerns can be addressed and contacts can be reached as quickly as possible. When someone is in a crash or they find themselves in an emergency situation, it is critical that emergency responders quickly find out as much as they can about that victim.

Participants in the Yellow Dot Program fill out the program form with their emergency contact, medical contact & medical information, insert it in the program's folder and then place that folder into their vehicle's glove compartment. Participants then place a yellow dot sticker on their vehicle's rear window. This sticker alerts emergency responsers to check a vehicle's glove box for the folder, helping them provide specific care to participants after a crash.

The Emergency Contact Information Program offers Pennsylvania driver's license & PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Only law enforcement officials can view their information in the system. Websites for these programs: Yellow Dot Program http://www.yellowdot.pa.gov/ and Emergency Contact Information http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/.