Preparedness

City mayors, town supervisors and other government officials from across Niagara County, along with first responders and law enforcement agencies from the federal to local level, engaged in countless hours of preparation.

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team forecasts 23 named storms, including 11 hurricanes. The Climate Adaptation Center in Florida is predicting 24 named storms, 12 hurricanes.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote that federal grant money is a “key resource to ensure that firefighters — and the cities, towns you serve — are appropriately protected from fire-related dangers.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation will tell motorists not to stop along Interstate 90 but expects that “impromptu” events will spring up as the eclipse starts and cars begin pulling over.

“I can call for a pizza on my cellphone and they know exactly where I am, but emergency service is pretty far behind right now. For something like 911, we should have accurate information. There’s no question about that.”

The county signed a $2.49 million contract in late 2022. Today, the company is a little over halfway done with siren installations that began in 2023, according to the director of the  St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.

When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions. It is important to never attempt to drive through water on the road, regardless of how deep it appears.

A 44-page report said during and after a recent storm 1,350 people went to overnight shelters and hundreds rushed to emergency rooms. The county medical examiner said it suspects four people died of hypothermia.

Chelan and Douglas counties are switching to Everbridge, the same system neighboring counties use, to create emergency alert uniformity and boost reliability. Users on the old system will be automatically switched over.

The new handheld radios have a GPS locator with an emergency button for an officer who needs help but can't speak, a recording system that records all radio traffic, and two additional channels.

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is asking residents with home surveillance cameras to register their devices with law enforcement, a move which officials say will improve the ability to solve and deter crime.

The state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness began distributing bleeding control kits to thousands of houses of worship in New Jersey this month. They provide medical items to treat gunshot victims.

The GUIDES mobile app gives Long Beach Police access to services that can help a subject with substance abuse, homelessness and mental illness. It allows access to case information, and warrant and stay-away data.

The tech allows physicians to virtually watch and listen over an EMT’s shoulder as they administer treatment to a sick patient. It’s like having a second set of eyes on challenging, complex situations.

The study at Texas A&M University is looking at the effects of smoke on the hearts of wildland firefighters using an Apple Watch and an air quality sensor worn by the firefighters.

The public expects to be safe, but after a disaster like a train derailment, if there’s not a clear and effective response, you lose the public’s trust and it’s difficult to get it back.

Perimeter is an app that puts emergency managers in an advanced state of situational awareness, allowing them to share critical information like road closures and evacuation routes both internally and with the public.

House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood, said the state was guarding against a potential clawback of $465 million as the reason a $50 million allotment for trust fund was omitted from the state House budget bill.