Preparedness and Communications

State law requires that Madison County consolidate the number of 911 call centers, or Public Service Answering Points, by at least half. Under a plan approved by the Emergency Telephone System Board the number of PSAPs would have been reduced to eight from 16.

The FEMA funds will help build three tornado safe rooms capable of sheltering a total of more than 2,250 people combined.

Keynote speaker addresses the ‘fire hose’ of information that flows to dispatch during an incident and how curative technology will synthesize the information, calling out what’s relevant and timely.

But judge decides PG&E's main focus will primarily be tree-trimming, not inspecting its power grid.

Next Gen TV, or Advanced Television Systems Committee standard, has the potential to enhance communication for EMS and fire agencies still reliant on 60-year-old technology.

Californians are going to pay, one way or another, to adapt to mounting fire risks. How we adapt will depend in part on how the bill is split, which makes this a first-order policy problem.

Efforts over the last two decades to prepare communities for disasters have failed and new methodologies need to be developed, according to research by FEMA’s Higher Education Program.

The policy was set to take effect March 1, but a judge had already ordered a temporary injunction prohibiting its enforcement until after he heard a lawsuit filed by owners of affected buildings.

But a 12-hour response window and no apparent path to coordinate with local first responders spark a concern that communication will still be lacking and response too slow.

One bill would establish a state catastrophe fund to provide extra liability insurance for utilities. It would provide the utilities financial stability to keep the lights on in California.

The classes follow the state of Pennsylvania program of study for such areas as security, corrections, policing, juvenile justice, firefighting, emergency management and hazardous materials.

People should consider going to the emergency room if they experience lacerations, severe pain, deformity to a limb, loss of consciousness or severe headache and vomiting after a fall.

The training was organized by the Shawnee County, Kan., Department of Emergency Management and included several area agencies.

An overhaul of the county’s 911 radio system got rolling last March, when the Cambria County commissioners approved a contract with Mission Critical Partners.

Mental health support for students is a big item on the ongoing agenda of the district and will be implemented under an 'umbrella of services.'