Business Continuity Week

This is Business Continuity Week and is a great opportunity for you to prepare your staff, volunteers and vendors for all hazards.  Consider adding business continuity tools and tips to your employee newsletter, web sites and external notices to vendors to alert them that your organization has pledged to be ready for emergencies.

In addition, you can use some of the on-line business continuity resources listed below to enhance your continuity plans and prepare your staff for all hazards.

Additionally, we can assist your organization in developing a business continuity plan.  For more information on this contact William Turner, (610) 344-4450 or wturner@chesco.org.

Business Continuity On-line resources:

• FEMA Private Sector Tip of the Week 3/19/12: Update your continuity plan and share it with your staff during the 2012 Business Continuity Week. www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/BusinessContinuityPlan.pdf
• Small Business Administration Business Preparedness - http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/disasterpreparedness/index.html
• Red Cross Ready Rating - http://www.readyrating.org/Businesses.aspx 
• Ready Business – www.ready.gov
• Ready Business Continuity Worksheet - http://www.ready.gov/document/business-continuity-plan-worksheet
• Sample business continuity plan - http://www.ready.gov/document/business-continuity-and-disaster-preparedness-plan
• Floodsmart.gov - http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/
• Invest in Business Preparedness - http://www.citizencorps.gov/resources/catalogue/investinprep.shtm
• Small Business is Big – http://www.fema.gov/privatesector/small_big_business.shtm
• FEMA Private Sector Weekly Preparedness Tips Archives - http://www.fema.gov/privatesector/tips.shtm

Readiness University

Hey Kids...become a graduate of Readiness University... Visit www.ready.gov/graduates-readiness-u 

We are celebrating National Flood Safety Awareness Week.  For tips on flood safety, follow us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ccdes and our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/ccdes.

Are you prepared?

It's National Flood Safety Awareness Week....Have you taken a disaster preparedness class?  Contact us to find out when the next class is offered !!!  Call 610-344-5000 or email - pio@chesco.org

Buy Flood Insurance Now

It takes 30 days for flood insurance to take effect, so it's important to buy insurance before the floodwaters start to rise.  Get flood insurance now - go to http://www.floodsmart.gov/   

It's National Flood Safety Awareness Week - for more safety tips go to our facebook page - www.facebook.com/ccdes or our Twitter page - www.twitter.com/ccdes

Turn Around - Don't Drown

It's National Flood Safety Awareness Week - Do not drive around a barricade.  Barricades are there for your protection.  If you come upon a barricade, turn around and to go another way.  Turn Around - Don't Drown !!!  For more information on Flood Safety go to http://www.floodsmart.gov/

Pipeline Safety Educational Meeting

Charlestown Township in partnership with West Pikeland Township invite you to the second of four Educational Meetings on Pipeline Safety - Safety of People and Pipelines Requires Improved Communication of Communities, Emergency Management and First Responders with Pipeline Operators

When:  Tuesday, March 27 from 6:30-9:30pm
Where:  West Pikeland Township Building
             1645 Art School Road
             Chester Springs, PA

Invited Speakers:

Karen Gentile, Community Assistance & Technical Services (CATS) Manager for US Department of Transportation, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Adminstration (PHMSA)

Paul Metro, Gas Safety Chief, PA Public Utility Commission

Kurt Imhof, Regional Representative for Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.

Plan To Attend:  Reserve Your Seat in Advance- email:  e-services@ccato.org or Charlestown Township email - admin1@charlestown.pa.us

National Flood Safety Awareness Week

This week we are celebrating National Flood Safety Awareness Week.  Throughout the week we will be sharing links and tips on how to prepare for and stay safe during flooding events on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/ccdes and our Twitter page - www.twitter.com/ccdes.   You can also get information about flood safety at http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/.  The best way to be prepared is to be informed.

For Immediate Release                                                           March 9, 2012

 “Change Your Clock Change Your Batteries”

West Chester, PA

            It’s that time of year when we lose an extra hour of sleep.  The time changes to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 11, 2012.  While you are changing your clocks, make another change that may save your life – change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

            “Changing smoke alarm batteries twice a year when changing your clocks is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries from fire.  In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire,” said Harrison Holt, Chester County Chief Fire Marshal. The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.  Changing the batteries in your smoke alarms is an effective way to reduce home fire deaths.

            To save lives and prevent needless injuries, the Energizer Company and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have joined forces for the 24^th year of the “Change Your Clock Change Your Battery” campaign.  The program urges all Americans to adopt this simple, lifesaving habit; change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when changing clocks back to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 11^th.

            For more information on this lifesaving campaign:

                        www.energizer.com/firesafety

                        http://www.iafc.org/

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Job Opportunity - County Health Department

Title: Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Department: Chester County Health Department

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania - Government Services Center

Description: The PH Emergency Preparedness Coordinator assists the Department's Emergency Management Planner in a variety of functions to ensure that the County of Chester is prepared to provide and/or coordinate public medical/health response to include mass medication dispensing to all County residents within designated timeframes following an emergency disaster/event. The person in this position facilitates and/or provides required emergency preparedness training for targeted audiences, oversees the Chester County Medical Reserve Corp and the Department's Public Health Ready certification, and manages all emergency preparedness supplies relevant to public health emergency management initiatives. Qualifications/Requirements: -Bachelor's degree in Emergency Preparedness or equivalent combination of education and experience; Master's degree preferred.
-Minimum of three years of emergency preparedness experience; ICS and NIMS experience,
qualification, and or/certification(s).
-Minimum of one year of medical domain (healthcare/medical emergency preparedness etc.) experience.
-Ability to pass Criminal History Background and FBI Clearance.
-Valid PA drivers' license and use of personal vehicle required; mileage reimbursed in accordance with County policy.
-Candidate must have good communication skills, be self-directed and able to work independently. -Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Basic Outlook skills.

Position Type: Full-Time/Exempt

Salary Information: Salary range available beginning at $40,899.04 annually based on education and experience.

Shift : 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Weekly

Hours: 35

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Director's Monthly Report

February, 2012

-There were a total of 20,858 calls for service in the 9-1-1 Center
-Police Responses were 26,879
-Fire Responses were 732
-EMS Responses:  ALS - 1,674 and BLS - 1,248 for a total of 2,922
-The Pub Ed Team had 9 events with a total of 140 contacts
-Fire Marshals investigated 22 incidents; 13 unintentional, 6 undetermined, 3 intentional. There were also 2 fire service injuries and 3 civilian injuries.
-In Fire Training, several HazMat training classes were held as well as a Structural Burn Session with 31 students.  The Spring Fire I class started Feb. 29th.
The HazMat Team had 3 staff responses and 1 team response:
      Staff responses:
             -Feb. 2 -- fuel in a small stream in New Garden Township
             -Feb. 2 -- an unknown substance ina stream in Coatesville City
             -Feb. 21 -- air monitoring at a fatal vehicle fire in Charlestown Township
      Team response:
              -Feb. 19 -- mercury spill from a broken thermometer in Tredyffrin Township
-The Emergency Management Division facilitated bringing in $494,000 to municipal governments and $202,000 to County government for damages that occurred during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
-Field Services' Spring EMT class continues with 28 students.  74 Medical Command Authorizations for paramedics were processed.  Authorizations must be done every year for medics to remain active.  The Divison also reviewed the Regional Disaster Plan, which is required to do annually to keep updated.

Any questions, email pio@chesco.org