25 Years of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

The Environmental Protection Agency marks 25 years since the passage of its federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) as part of the reauthorization for Superfund in 1986. EPCRA has played a significant role in protecting human health and the environment over the last quarter century by providing communities and emergency planners with valuable information on hazardous chemicals in the community as well as information about accidental chemical releases.

Please visit the 25 Years of EPCRA Website for more information:

http://epa.gov/oem/content/epcra/epcra25.htm

National EAS Test -- November 9th at 1 PM

For years, local television and radio stations have periodically tested the Emergency Alert System (EAS) with familiar tones followed by “This is a test…,” but on Wednesday, November 9th, for the first time ever, a nationwide test of the alert system will take place.

While the EAS is often used by state and local emergency managers for weather warnings, it has never been used or tested at a national level.  At 1 p.m. CST on Wednesday, November 9, radio stations, local television stations, wireline video services, and cable and satellite providers in the Kansas City metropolitan area will join other broadcasters across the country for a simultaneous test of the system. Although the test will be similar to the routine monthly tests most of us are familiar with, there are a few key differences:

• The nationwide test will last longer than normal — approximately three minutes.
• While the audio message will include the words “This is a test” and be the same for everyone, the video test may vary due to differing technologies. Viewers should be aware that the video messages may or may not include the words “This is a test” in the background image or scroll at the bottom of the screen.
• The test will be conducted through broadcast media only — it will not include NOAA weather radios, mobile devices or outdoor warning sirens.

The nationwide EAS test will be conducted jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Communications Commission and National Weather Service. These agencies selected the date, November 9, because it is near the end of hurricane season and before the severe winter weather season begins. The time (1 p.m. CST) was selected to occur during working hours in time zones across the nation, minimizing disruption by avoiding traffic rush hours.

Citizens in Johnson County are encouraged to take this opportunity to think about what they would do in a real emergency including having an emergency kit, making a plan, and finding ways to stay informed (like the JOCOAlert text messaging system).

For more information about the nationwide EAS test, visit www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test-eas. 

For more information about the Johnson County Division of Emergency Management visit www.jocoem.org. 

Zombie Preparedness Month

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has declared that October is Zombie Preparedness Month!  To exercise our zombie (and general) emergency preparedness, they are sponsoring an "I'm Not Scared, I'm Prepared" Art Contest for all residents of Kansas aged K through 6th grade.  All entries must be submitted by 5 PM on October 25th to be eligible.


Visit www.ksready.gov to print off a coloring sheet and use this sheet to illustrate why you’re not scared, but are prepared for any disaster or emergency, or activities an individual can take part in to prepare for a disaster or emergency. Turn in a completed entry form, including a parent’s or guardian’s signature, and your submission by mail to:

Kansas Division of Emergency Management
Attn: Devan Tucking
2800 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66611
Entries become the property of the Sponsor to be used in publications and will not be returned.

Johnson County Emergency Management would love to see it too!  Just email us and we'll share it with our social media community.


The Contest will be administered in separate age groups as follows:

Kindergarten-1st Grade
2nd Grade-3rd Grade
4th Grade-6th Grade

The most creative artwork displaying good disaster preparedness will win.  Winning artwork will be displayed in various publications and in general disaster handouts. “I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared” Activities and a Prepared for Action Disaster Kit.  Additionally, all participants will receive a certificate.

Emergency Preparedness Townhall Gatherings at Johnson County Community College on Tuesday at 7 PM

 Johnson County Emergency Management will be hosting an emergency preparedness townhall on Tuesday, September 26^th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM on the Johnson County Community College Campus (12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS) in the Virginia Krebs Room (CC107) as part of activities related to National Preparedness Month. 

This event is part of the ongoing series of JOCOTownhall events which have facilitated open and authentic discussion about the following three questions:

1)  What types of community-impactful disaster most concerns you?

2)    What most concerns you about preparing yourself and your family for a disaster?

3)    How can Johnson County help you be more prepared?

Johnson County Emergency Management will be conducting one more JOCOTownhall gathering as a Twitter Lunch chat on Wednesday, September 28^th from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  Simply use the hashtag #JOCOTH or talk with our @JOCO_emergency Twitter account.

Please note that the Virginia Krebs room is located on the first floor of the Carleson Center.

For more information about emergency management or notification, please visit www.jocoem.org.

Conversations & Community

As it is National Preparedness Month, Johnson County Emergency Management is holding a series of Townhall  meetings to discuss the following three questions:


1)      What types of community-impactful disaster most concerns you? 

2)      What most concerns you about preparing yourself and your family for a disaster?

3)      How can Johnson County help you be more prepared?

Our next opportunity is this Friday at 1:30 PM on the Johnson County Radio Network!  We are inviting YOU to be the special guest to discuss the questions above or talk about any issue related to emergency preparedness.  If you can't make the live show you can always hit us up on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtags #JOCOTH and #JCRN.

JOCOTownhall -- Where Tradition Meets Technology

As September is National Preparedness Month, Johnson County Emergency Management will be conducting a series of Townhall gatherings – both physically and virtually—to have an open and authentic discussion about Johnson County’s readiness to respond and recover from emergencies and disasters like those that have recently struck Joplin (MO), Chapman (KS), and the State of Alabama.  We would like to engage all those who live, work, and play in Johnson County to discuss preparedness successes and achievements as well as improvement areas.

To provide opportunities to engage, Johnson County Emergency Management will be asking the following three questions:

1)      What types of community-impactful disaster most concerns you? 

2)      What most concerns you about preparing yourself and your family for a disaster?

3)      How can Johnson County help you be more prepared?

It’s that simple.  To make sure anyone can contribute, we are setting up a variety of ways to meet as a community.

On-Site Community Discussion – Participants are encouraged to visit with emergency management staff to openly and honestly discuss preparedness in Johnson County.

·        ~September 27^th, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Johnson County Community College, Virginia Krebs Community Room (CC107)

Webinars – Technology users are encouraged to login and use the virtual webinar platform to learn and engage.

·        ~September 26^th, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Twitter Lunch Chat – Social media participants are urged to engage in virtual townhalls at the following dates and times by using the hashtag #JOCOTH

~September 13^th, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

~September 28th, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM


Johnson County Radio Network -- Call into the online radio show or submit questions and answers in advance to discuss the preparedness of Johnson County
~September 23rd, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Natural Disasters...What about the Animals?

K-State - Olathe is offering a free training on September 24th from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on animal management and care during disasters.  The training will present a live moderated simulcast of the 2011 Animal Human Bond Conference in Manhattan, Kansas. In addition to viewing the conference speakers, moderators will convey questions from the audience to the speakers in Manhattan and lead group discussions during the break periods. There is no cost to attend the simulcast presentation.  The following information expands on the training:


Who Should Participate?


Animal Owners
University Students/Faculty/Staff
Cooperative Extension Professionals
Public Safety Personnel (Police, Fire Fighters, Health Care Providers, etc.)
Staff of Pet-related Organizations

Date and Time
Saturday, September 24, 2011
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Registration
There is no registration fee thanks to our generous sponsors.

Location of Olathe Simulcast
Forum Hall
Kansas State University—Olathe
22201 Innovation Dr.
Olathe, Kansas

*The street, Innovation Drive, is so new that GPS and web-based map locators may not provide accurate directions. So if you are using a GPS to find your way to the K-State Olathe campus, enter the address as 22201 College Blvd., Olathe, KS, 66061.

Parking
Parking is available and free of charge.


Questions
If you have questions regarding this event, please contact John Pascarella, K-State Olathe’s Associate Dean for Academic and Research Programs, at jbpascar@k-state.edu.