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Livingston Parish. A Parish guide to becoming Storm Ready. Darrick Hesson, LEM Deputy Director. What is the StormReady Program?.
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Livingston Parish A Parish guide to becoming Storm Ready Darrick Hesson, LEM Deputy Director
What is the StormReady Program? • “StormReady is a nationwide program that helps communities better protect their citizens during severe weather from tornadoes to tsunamis. The program encourages communities to a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations. StormReady provides emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.”
Quick Facts on Livingston Parish • Population approximately 135,000 • Located in Southeast Louisiana • Considered a coastal parish because of Lake Maurepas • Boarders East Baton Rouge, Ascension Tangipahoa & St. Helena • Rural community
Getting Started • Visit NWS StormReady website for application and to download the toolkit • http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/ • Are you in a surge zone?... • If so, an additional application with hurricane-related criteria is required. • Stakeholder Meeting • Determine what category of guidelines to follow.
Stakeholder Meeting • Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness • Sheriff’s Office Communications • 911 Communications • Parish President’s Office • Parish Public Works • Parish School Board • First Responder Agencies
Population Based Categories • The Guidelines for participation in the StormReady program are based on population. • Less than 2,500 • 2,500 – 14,999 • 15,000 – 40,000 • Greater than 40,000
StormReady Population-Based Guidelines • Guideline 1: Communication • Guideline 2: NWS Information Reception • Guideline 3: Weather & Water Monitoring • Guideline 4: Local Warning Dissemination • Guideline 5: Community Preparedness • Guideline 6: Administrative
Guideline 1: Communication • Establish 24 hrWarning Point (WP) • Livingston Parish 911 Communications District and Sheriff’s Office • Establish Emergency Operations Center • Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
Guideline 2: NWS Information Reception • Methods needed for EOC/WP to receive NWS warnings, etc. • NOAA Weather Radio • Television (Local network or Cable TV) • Radio Station (AM/FM) – EAS Reception • Internet (subscription for alerts) iNWS • Amateur Radio
Guideline 3: Weather & Water Monitoring • Local Weather & Water Monitoring Equipment • Anemometer (Wind gauge) • Rain Gauge • River Gauge • Internet Radar Source : National Weather Service • TV Radar Source : The Weather Channel
Guideline 4: Local Warning Dissemination • Methods for EOC/WP to disseminate warnings • Plan for sirens on emergency vehicles • Telephone tree to critical facilities • Local Pager System • Coordinated Area-Wide Radio Network • First Call Alert Notification System • Website, Facebook & Twitter
Guideline 5: Community Preparedness • Four annual weather safety talks • Train Spotters and Dispatchers biennially • Host/co-host annual NWS spotter training
Guideline 6: Administrative • Formal hazardous weather operations plan • Visit by emergency manager to NWS • Annual visits by NWS official to community
Breaking It Down • Technology • Weather Station • NOAA Weather Radio • AM/FM Radio • Amateur Radio • Internet Access • TV • Administrative • SLOSH/Hurrivac Training • Storm Spotter Class • Storm Surge & Wind Risk Assessment • Hazardous Weather Operations Plan • EOC Activation Procedure • Spotter Activation Criteria • Public Outreach • Shelter Area’s & Pickup Points
Administrative = Time Consuming • SLOSH/HurrivacTraining • Storm Spotter Class • Storm Surge & Wind Risk Assessment • Hazardous Weather Operations Plan • EOC Activation Procedure • Spotter Activation Criteria • Public Outreach • Shelter Area’s & Pickup Points
Cost • No cost to Apply to the StormReady Program • Use HLS Grants to offset additional expenses. • Purchases • Davis Weather Station • Five NOAA Weather Radio’s
What Are The Benefits • In addition to praise from NWS and GOHSEP… • StormReady Signs to display through out your community • Recognition on the national StormReady map of communities • Possibility of lower Flood Insurance Premiums • AND…
Giving the citizens in your community peace of mind by knowing your doing everything possible to prepare for severe weather.
Contacting your Local Office • Lake Charles : (318) 477-5285 • New Orleans : (504) 522-7330 • Shreveport : (318) 631-3669 http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm
Questions?... Darrick Hesson, LEM Deputy Director Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness dhesson@lpoep.org