Basic Preparedness for Housing and Urban Development

1. Basic Preparedness forHousing and Urban Development John Dwyer Coordinator Champaign County Emergency Management Agency jdwyer@co.champaign.il.us 217.384.3826

2. Outline • Why Plan for Emergencies? • Having a plan • Hazards • Alerting • Sheltering • Other items of interest • Apps for disasters • For more information • Questions

3. Why Plan for Emergencies? • Get your agency and community back in • business after an emergency • • Protect and support your employees, clients • and community during and after an • emergency. • • Protect your facilities, systems and • equipment.

4. What is an Emergency? • Any unplanned event that can: • Cause deaths or significant injuries to • employees, customers or the public • • Shut down your business, disrupt operations, • cause physical or environmental damage, • • Threaten the agency’s financial standing or • public image. • • Natural hazards, human-caused hazards or • technology- related hazards

5. Examples of Emergencies The emergency may be agency specific, local, regional or national. “Disaster” implies a large-scale, natural event Many events can be “emergencies,” including: • Fire, explosions • Hazardous materials incident, Radiological accident • Floods • Storms – Hurricanes, Tornados, Winter storms • Earthquake • • Communications and systems failure • • Wide spread illness • • Civil disturbance • • Loss of key supplier or customer

6. Having a Plan Look at your agency’s capabilities and potential hazards • –Look at your current plans and policies, i.e. insurance, finance, and employee policies • Meet with local groups about their plans and resources • Identify codes and regulations that impact your operation • Identify your critical products, services and operations and determine need for backups. • Identify agency resources and capabilities that could be needed in an emergency • Identify community resources that could be needed • Make formal agreements

7. Having a Plan • Review your insurance policies • Identify potential emergencies and their probability - Make a formal assessment of impacts • Develop and write the plan – Agency policy and personnel responsibilities – How and where emergencies will be managed. – Establish emergency response procedures • Train your staff • Give plan to your local partners.

8. Know the hazards • Floods • Thunderstorms and lightning • Tornadoes • Extreme Heat • Non-weather related—chemicals, terrorism, etc.

9. Floods

10. Facts About Floods • One of the most common hazards in the United States • Some floods develop slowly • Flash floods develop quickly • Risks are greater in low-lying areas, near water, or downstream from a dam

11. Thunderstorms and Lightning

12. Facts About Thunderstorms • Storms may occur singly, in clusters, or in lines • Storms can be most severe when affecting one location for an extended time • Storms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period

13. Tornadoes

14. Facts About Tornadoes • Nature’s most violent storms • Every state is at some risk • Tornadoes may strike quickly with little or no warning • They generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm • Champaign Co ranks 12th in the state in terms of frequencies of tornadoes.

15. Gifford 2013

16. Extreme Heat

17. Extreme Heat • Know the terms used by the National Weather Service during extreme heat: Heat Wave, Excessive Heat Watch, Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Warning, and Heat Index. • Stay out of the sun. If you must be in the sun, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) and a wide-brimmed hat. • Stay in the shade or under awnings as much as possible. • Avoid overexertion and strenuous outdoor activities. • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible to prevent sunburn. • Consume plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. Water, diluted juices, and electrolyte solutions are best. Stay away from carbonated drinks.

18. Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

19. Facts About Winter Storms and Extreme Cold • Heavy snowfalls can immobilize an entire region • Winter storms can result in flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines, and hypothermia

20. Non weather-related Emergencies • Hazard Materials • Fire • Terrorism

21. Sheltering • In the event of a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning, move to an interior hallway on the lowest floor of your home or office • Avoid windows and large rooms with a lot of roof area • Get under a heavy piece of furniture • Do not open windows

22. Sheltering • You may be asked to stay home or “shelter in place” during some emergencies such as a hazardous chemical leak or toxic smoke • Stay away from windows • Identify a room that can be easily sealed • In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

23. Know the terms • Storm Categories • Watch verses Warning

24. Severe Thunderstorm Risk Categories

25. Watch VS Warning

26. Watches and Warning • Be advised tornadoes and other significant weather patterns can occur without a watch or warning have been issued • This has occurred several times in recent history—last 5 years • See something report it/react to it

27. Outdoor Warning Sirens

28. All Hazards Weather Radio • Make sure the batteries are fresh • Program properly to receive the warnings you need • Try to observe the weekly test • Be familiar with your area, especially true when travelling, so you know if you are in the path of a storm • Should have one in each facility

29. Message Systems • Citizens can register cell phones and e-mail addresses to receive emergency messages • Register an alternate e-mail address if possible • A similar system for the community at large is available

30. Report Significant Damages • Report any significant storm damage to authorities-email, phone, pictures if possible • Infrastructure, utilities, road issues (blockage, flood) • Vital for NWS reports • Could assist County for disaster declaration

31. Apps for Disasters • Free: • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • American Red Cross—Tornado, First Aid • Weatherbug Little League—Lightning • Emergency Plan • Weather FX

32. www.ready.gov • Ready.gov has many resources for helping you make your plans. • Business Emergency Plan • Individual-Family Plans

33. HUD Specific Information • https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/disasters/ • https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/disasterguide • http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc/OHC_DISA

34. For more general information • www.redcross.org • www.weather.gov/lincoln • www.champaigncountyema.org • www.ready.il.gov

35. Questions?

36. Contact information • John Dwyer Coordinator Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (217)-384-3826 jdwyer@co.champaign.il.us www.champaigncountyema.org EMA Twitter: @ChampCoEMA