NEWS RELEASE: TARs Recycling Program Raises $5480 for Local Fire Departments

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: December 31, 2009 TIME: 12:45 p.m.

CONTACT: Michael Amberson, Public Information Officer 256.549.4575 (Office)

ema@cityofgadsden.com

TARs Recycling Program Raises $5480 for Local Fire Departments

Citizens, schools, and businesses of Etowah County who returned their old Tone Alert Radios (TARs) have helped to raise $5480 for local volunteer fire departments in Etowah County. The program was administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency, Attalla Fire Department, Etowah County Volunteer Fire Association, Glencoe Fire Department, Hokes Bluff Fire Department, Rainbow City Fire Department, and the Southside Fire Department.

TARs were issued to schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, and special needs individuals as part of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP), as a means for notification of local emergencies. They were deactivated in April and replaced with the emergency alert radios which were offered earlier in the year. However, individuals with these TARs were asked not to throw them away due to the need to properly dispose of the battery inside the radio. Instead, recycling bins were set up in six locations for individuals to drop off their TARs. Local responders, Gadsden/Etowah County EMA staff members and volunteers were able to pick up TARs from individuals who were unable to take their radio to the recycling bins.

For more information, please contact the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency at 256-549-4575.

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What Is Happening at the Anniston Army Depot?

Destruction of chemical agents continues at the Anniston Army Depot. The incinerator began operating in 2003. Since then, it has safely destroyed the entire stockpile of nerve agents (blister agent is currently being destroyed). We are familiar with the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, better known as CSEPP. Through CSEPP, our community has become more prepared, not only for chemical emergencies, but all emergencies. We have become familiar with our evacuation routes and how to shelter-in-place, thanks in part to CSEPP.

Michael Abrams is the Public Affairs Officer for the Anniston Chemical Agency Disposal Facility. Mike was kind enough to answer a few questions on October 25^th, about the current status of events at the Anniston Army Depot.

Q: What is left to be destroyed at the Anniston Army Depot?

Abrams: To answer this question, let me state what has been safely demilitarized as of October 25, 2009. To date, the Army civilian employees of the Anniston Chemical Activity and the Team (other civilians, SAIC, and Westinghouse Anniston contractor employees) at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility have safely processed a total of 405,758 munitions (61.3%) and 314,162 gallons of chemical agent. The Anniston totals include all nerve agent GB munitions (142,428 munitions and 96,078 gallons), all nerve agent VX munitions (219,374 munitions and 196,925 gallons), and 14.6% of the mustard agent munitions (43,956 munitions and 21,159 gallons). What is left is hundreds of thousands of 4.2-inch mortars, artillery shells (105mm and 155mm) and some large bulk containers.

Q: How does this compare with the GB and VX which have already been destroyed?

Abrams: Nerve agents GB and VX are deadly on contact, whether that contact is with the nerve agent in liquid or vapor form. Mustard agent is not necessarily deadly. However, on contact, mustard agent will cause large, painful blisters on exposed skin. The stored mustard agent munitions at Anniston present a level of risk to Anniston Chemical Activity and Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility employees who are well-trained to work safely with the munitions. The mustard agent munitions pose virtually no risk to the surrounding civilian communities or the environment.

Q: When will the work be completed?

Abrams: Officially, we expect all of the mustard munitions in Anniston to be safely demilitarized before the end of 2012. Optimistically, we may be able to complete disposal operations before the end of the year 2011. Regardless, after disposal operations are complete, we will then close the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility over the next 18 to 24 months.

Q: Will chemical weapons from other states be brought in to be destroyed?

Abrams: Simply said…”No.” The Department of Defense (The President’s budget) has requested and Congress has funded the construction of disposal facilities in Colorado and Kentucky. The other U.S. storage sites are currently operating existing disposal facilities or have concluded their respective demilitarization operations.

Q: In addition to the local Emergency Management Agency, who can people speak with if they have questions or concerns about the disposal of chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot?

Abrams: We have an Information Office in the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce Building. It is located at 1330 Quintard Avenue, Anniston. The phone number is 256-238-0120. The public is invited to visit, call, or email (mabrams@ancdf.org) questions or comments.

NEWS RELEASE: No Monthly Siren Test Today

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: December 8, 2009 TIME: 8:00 a.m.

CONTACT: Michael Amberson, Public Information Officer 256.549.4575 (Office)

ema@cityofgadsden.com 256.328.2946 (Cell)

256.547.7952 (Fax)

No Monthly Siren Test Today

Due to inclement weather, the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency will not be testing the outdoor warning sirens as scheduled. The sirens in Etowah County are scheduled for a monthly test on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. For more information, contact the EMA at 549-4575.

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NEWS RELEASE: LEPC Meeting-December 10th

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: November 25, 2009 TIME: 8:00 a.m.

CONTACT: Michael Amberson, Public Information Officer

ema@cityofgadsden.com

LEPC Meeting

The quarterly meeting of Etowah County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will be held on Thursday December 10^th at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at Glencoe Fire Station #2, located at 1120 Lonesome Bend Road in Glencoe.

The LEPC is comprised of members of the community, industry, and emergency responders. Members of the public are welcomed to attend this meeting. For more information, please contact the Gadsden/Etowah Emergency Management Agency at 549-4575.

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H1N1 Vaccine: Myth Versus Fact

Click document for larger size:

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather Safety

As we head into the winter months, it is important that we all make preparations for the possibility of winter weather in the coming months. While winter weather is not common for Etowah County, it does occur. We only need to look back to the blizzard of 1993 to see how severely winter weather can impact our lives and our community. It doesn’t take a major event like the 1993 blizzard to adversely affect us. A few inches of snow can shut down roads and close stores. A minimal accumulation of ice can cause trees and power lines to fall, creating power outages. Extreme cold weather can cause hypothermia and frostbite to persons exposed. It can also burst pipes, causing homes to be without water. And don’t forget that severe thunderstorms, floods and strong winds can affect our area as well during winter.

Therefore, it is important to take three steps to prepare for the coming winter months. Many of these things, you probably have already done. If you have, go ahead and review them to make sure that you are prepared for winter weather.

1. Prepare a Disaster Supply Kit

· A basic disaster supply kit contains a three day supply of water and non-perishable food. Don’t forget to include a can opener if you have canned food.

· Make sure you stockpile medicine. This includes prescription and non-prescription medications. In addition, include a first-aid kit for minor injuries.

· If the power goes out, you will need flashlights. Also, a radio will be useful to stay in touch with what is going on outside. Radio was a major source of information during the 1993 blizzard, with power and cable out. Don’t forget to include extra batteries fitting the type you will need for all of your electronic devices.

· Extra blankets and clothes can help make you more comfortable.

· Include personal care items such as toilet paper and soap. While we take these for granted, you could run out and not be able to get more.

· Other items important to you. If you have children, include toys and books. You may want to put money in your kit in case you don’t have access to it during an emergency.

2. Prepare Yourself and Your Home

· Dress for the weather

-Several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing

-Mittens or gloves

-Wear a hat

· Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel and an alternative heating source.

· Winterize your home by adding insulation to the walls and attic. Add weather-stripping to doors and windows. You can also add plastic to your windows.

· Clear gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut away tree branches that can fall on your home during a storm.

· Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic. Allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Also, learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.

· December-March are peak months for home fire deaths. Safely operate heaters. Keep fire extinguishers and teach everyone where they are and how to use them.

· Don’t forget about helping elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.

· Make sure your outdoor pet have a fresh, unfrozen supply of water and shelter.

· Make sure your car is winter ready by checking its:

-Antifreeze levels

-Battery and ignition system

-Brakes

-Exhaust System

-Fuel and air filters

-Gas: try to keep at least a ½ tank in at all time

-Heater and defroster

-Lights

-Oil

-Thermostat

-Windshield wipers

-Winter Emergency Kit: Windshield scraper, flashlight, water, snack food, socks, gloves, and blankets

3. Stay Informed of Winter Weather Threats.

· Monitor your emergency alert radio or local media outlet for weather information.

· Know what the different winter weather terms mean.

· Keep family, neighbors, and friends informed of winter weather threats.

As always, you can contact the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency with any questions you may have regarding preparedness. Our number is 256-549-4575 and our email address is ema@cityofgadsden.com.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather Terminology

This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Alabama, as declared by Governor Bob Riley. It is a good week to remember how winter weather can affect you, and how to prepare for it. Today we will review some of the terminology that is often heard before and during winter weather.

v Blizzard Warning: Issued for sustained wind speeds or frequent gusts of 35 M.P.H. or more and falling or blowing snow which reduces visibility to less than ¼ of a mile for at least three hours.

v Freezing Rain: Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze on contact with these surfaces. An ice coating or glaze can form on trees, cars and roads. Even small amounts can become a significant hazard.

v Frostbite: Damage to body tissue cause by tissue being frozen. Frostbite causes the loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in the extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, slowly warm the affected area(s) and seek medical help immediately.

v Hypothermia: The loss of heat from the body. Warning signs are uncontrollable shivering, memory loss and distortion. Medical treatment should be sought immediately.

v Sleet: Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets. These are transparent or translucent pellets of ice of 5 millimeters or less in diameter before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists and pedestrians.

v Snow Flurries: Intermittent light snowfall of short duration. Usually causes no accumulations.

v Snow Showers: Brief periods of snowfall in which intensity can be varied and may change rapidly. Some accumulation is possible.

v Snow Squalls: Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty wind. Accumulation may be significant.

v Wind Chill: Based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. It is caused by the combined effects of wind and cold temperatures. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill. Inanimate objects such as pipes and car radiators are not affected. So a wind chill below freezing, with a real temperature above freezing will not cause pipes to freeze. Wind chill at -20° can cause frostbite in 15 minutes or less.

v Winter Storm Watch: Winter events are expected in the next 12 to 48 hours. This is issued when the following is forecasted to occur:

§ Snow-Accumulations of 2 inches or more

§ Freezing Rain-Ice accumulations of ¼ of an inch or more

§ Sleet-Accumulation of one inch or more

§ Wind Chill-At or below -10°

v Winter Storm Warning: Issued when hazardous winter weather is occurring, is imminent, or has a high probability of occurrence within the next 0 to 36 hours. If forecasters’ confidence in a predominant precipitation type is high, the warning can be event specific such as a heavy snow warning, sleet warning, and ice storm warning. This is issued when the following is occurring or is forecasted to occur:

§ Snow-Accumulations of 2 inches or more

§ Freezing Rain-Ice accumulations of ¼ of an inch or more

§ Sleet-Accumulation of one inch or more

§ Wind Chill-At or below -10°

v Winter Weather Advisory: Issued for winter events that are significant to the public, but does not constitute a serious enough threat to life and property to warrant the issuance of a warning. These advisories are issued for forecasted accumulations less than those of the winter storm warning.

Source: National Weather Service in Birmingham: Winter Weather Terminology. Found at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/index.php?n=winteraware2009pnsday2

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather History in Etowah County

This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Alabama, as declared by Governor Bob Riley. It is a good week to remember how winter weather can affect you, and how to prepare for it. Today we will look back at winter weather history in north-central Alabama.

Winter officially begins on December 21st and ends on March 20th. However, winter weather has often affected our area well before the winter solstice and after the spring equinox. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham indicates that the average date of the first freeze is November 9th. The average date of the final freeze is March 26th. Here is the order of the coldest months according to climatological data for Gadsden:

• January (40°)
• December (43°)
• February (44°)
• March (52°)
• November (52°)
• April (60°)
• October (62°)

On average, central Alabama receives 1.7" of snow. Here is the order of the snowiest months according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham:

• January (0.8")
• December (0.3")
• March (0.3")
• February (0.3")
• April and November (Trace)

In addition to severe weather we normally associate with winter, severe thunderstorms can also occur in the winter months. Etowah County had eight days of significant thunderstorm activity during the winter of 2008-2009; and had ten days of significant thunderstorm activity during the winter of 2007-2008.

Here are links to a couple of winter weather events that have happened in Etowah County:

Blizzard of 1993

Coates Bend Tornado of 2000

Source: National Weather Service in Birmingham: Birmingham Cold Weather Facts. Found at: http://test.crh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=climo_winter2006bhm

News Release: H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: November 10, 2009 TIME: 12:45 p.m.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

The Alabama Department of Public Health will hold an H1N1 vaccine clinic this Friday November 13^th from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at its office on 709 Broad Street. Limited quantities of the vaccine will be available to the following groups:

• Pregnant women
• Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (parents, siblings and child care providers)
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Individuals aged 25 through 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV and certain types of arthritis)

For more information, please contact the Alabama Department of Public Health at 256-547-6311.

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Get Involved in Community Efforts to Help Others Be Prepared

Once you have put into practice steps 1-3, you will have made yourself and your family much more prepared to face the next emergency. You are now ready to move to the final step, which is getting involved in community efforts to prepare others. There are some great organizations that you can join to help. In Etowah County, you can volunteer with the American Red Cross, Citizen Corps, Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency, Salvation Army, and the Etowah Baptist Association just to name a few. If you are a part of an organization that can provide assistance in times of emergencies, your organization can join the Etowah County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (ECVOAD). You could also take a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course, which would prepare you to assist your community and responders should a crisis occur.

What you can do is dependent on your situation. If you can’t join with one of the aforementioned organizations, then help someone in your neighborhood or family. No matter how young or old you are, you can help. Can you help a neighbor prepare their plan? Can you assist a family member in building an emergency preparedness kit? There are many things you can do to help others be prepared. Take the steps that you have put into practice, and pass them on.

• Etowah County American Red Cross: 547-8667
• Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency: 549-4575
• Salvation Army: 546-4673
• United Way: 547-2581
• Etowah Baptist Association: 547-1691
• Citizen Corps/ECVOAD: Call EMA at 549-4575
• CERT Course: Call the EMA 549-4575

Make an Emergency Supply Kit

Building an emergency preparedness kit is step three in making yourself and your family prepared for the next emergency. When preparing your kit, take into account your unique needs. Do you have children? If so, you probably will want to put items in there that will occupy their time such as toys and coloring books. Does someone in your family take prescriptions? Ask your doctor about stockpiling medications for your preparedness kit. These are the types of things that will be personal to you when preparing your kit.

There are some items that every kit will need. Water and food are two of the primary ones. The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends one gallon per person per day for drinking and hygiene. As for food, stockpile non-perishable foods in cans, or items such as granola bars, peanuts, crackers, and electrolyte drinks. Don’t forget your can opener for the canned food!

Other items which you will find useful include a flashlight with batteries, battery powered or crank radio, changes of clothing, and personal care items. These are items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper. You may also consider putting important documents such as deeds, insurance policies, and bank account information in your kit. Some people have suggested that having cash in your kit is a good idea, due to the possibility of banks being closed and ATMs not working. Visit www.adph.org/get10 for some great information on preparing an emergency preparedness kit.

Looking at our two examples, the Blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Katrina, you can see how having these items would have helped those affected during these emergencies. It also underlies the fact that when a major emergency occurs, help may not be immediately available. Many of us remember being without power for days after the Blizzard of 1993. Roads were closed and nearly impossible to navigate in most areas. An emergency preparedness kit could have limited the suffering for many people during this event.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of the residents of New Orleans who didn’t get to evacuate were facing major crisis. Those who didn’t face immediate dangers from the flooding were still without fresh water and food for quite a while. Unfortunately, some people did not make it. A good emergency preparedness kit would have helped those who so desperately needed fresh water, food, and medications.

Preparing an emergency preparedness kit that can last up to 72 hours is one of the most important things you can do in being prepared. If your kit is too large to take with you if you have to evacuate, prepare a small kit that you can take with you. Don’t forget to check your kit every six months. Having expired foods and medications in your kit will do you no good. As shown by the examples in the Blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Katrina, you may have to take care of yourself and your family for up to 72 hours after an emergency. Are you ready to do that if necessary?

Make a Family Emergency Plan

After you have identified the hazards which can threaten your community, you will need to create a family plan to deal with these hazards. There are a few things to take into consideration when making this plan.

Ø Learn how to protect yourself from the hazards that you have identified. For instance, most of us know how to protect ourselves from tornadoes. Make sure you have a safe place inside your home, which is on the lowest floor away from windows. Check this place. Is it free of clutter? Can you get inside quickly? Other protective actions to consider are sheltering in place and evacuating. Take a few moments to consider whether you truly know how to protect yourself. If you put it off until an emergency, it will be too late.

Ø Have an out-of-town contact you can contact if an emergency occurs. If a major emergency happens in your community, your family and friends will want to know that you are ok. However, phone lines and cell service could be jammed in your area. It will be much easier to contact someone in an area not affected by the emergency. They can be your point of contact to let others know if you are alright, or if you need help. They can also serve to let you know the status of others which you care about.

Ø Know from where you will get your emergency information during a crisis. Local radio and television stations are often great sources of information during and after an emergency. Also, be sure you have an emergency alert radio which will warn you in case of an emergency. Etowah County’s same code is 001055.

Ø Finally, write down and practice your plan. You will have more success with your family plan by do so. Go over it with your family. Practice it at least twice a year. Make sure your family is well aware of what you will do, and who to contact in emergencies. Otherwise, your plan may not be effective.

Having a plan can prove to be vital, as proven by Hurricane Katrina. Those who were prepared fared much better than those who had taken no prior preparedness measures. Hurricane Katrina and the Blizzard of 1993 also show that in a major emergency, response units may not be able to arrive immediately, due to the amount of emergencies around their community. Preparing yourself and your family by making a plan, writing it down, and practicing it will help you be much safer when the next emergency occurs. Visit ready.gov for more information on how to create a family plan.

Identify Hazards Which Threaten Your Community

One of the first things you will need to do to be more prepared is to identify what hazards exist in your community. It seems easy enough, and really it is. Let’s take a look at some of the most common hazards to Etowah County, and north-central Alabama.

Tornadoes-According to the National Weather Service’s tornado database, Etowah County has not had a tornado-related fatality since 1913. Etowah County has had 24 documented tornadoes since 1908; however that number is almost certainly higher due to non-reported tornadoes in rural areas of the county. The most recent was in 2003. Two destructive tornadoes occured within a year of each other in 2000 and 2001. The best known of these was the tornado that struck Coates Bend on December 16, 2000. It caused 14 injuries and damage to 250 homes. Despite the common myth, Etowah County is not protected from tornadoes from the surrounding mountains.

Thunderstorms-A way of life in the south is dealing with thunderstorms. Late spring and late autumn are generally the stormiest times for Etowah County. Of course, we are all familiar with the pop-up thunderstorms of summer as well. The main threats from thunderstorms are lightning, high winds, hail, and tornadoes. This year, the Gadsden/Etowah County EMA has received hundreds of reports of damage due to thunderstorm winds and lightning strikes.

Floods-Many communities in Etowah County lie inside the Coosa River’s floodplain. In addition, Etowah County is also downstream from Weiss Dam in Cherokee County. It has been a long time since Etowah County has experience a truly catastrophic flood. However, it is inevitable that it will happen again.

Hazardous Materials Accident-The next time you are out on a major highway, look and see how many placards you see pass before you. Placards are the diamond-shaped signs on trucks or rail cars which indicate that a hazardous material is being transported. Etowah County has several major highways, and a major railroad which traverses it. These transportation routes routinely have vehicles which pass over them with hazardous materials in their cargo. While these trucking companies and railroads take great precautions to protect these shipments, accidents do occur.

Anniston Army Depot-Hopefully, everyone is aware of the chemicals being incinerated at the Anniston Army Depot. Currently, the final chemical, HD Mustard is being destroyed. Due to the nature of Mustard, the direct threat to Etowah County has been greatly reduced. However, if an incident occurs at the Anniston Army Depot, Etowah County could play a supporting role to Calhoun County in response. Due to this, it is still important that everyone keep the Anniston Army Depot in their minds and on their lists.

Winter Storms-Etowah County is in one of the best locations in Etowah County to be affected by winter storms. The highest reported total for snowfall during the Blizzard of 1993 was in Walnut Grove. While Etowah County has not been affected by a severe winter storm is several years, it is once again important to keep this in your plans.

These are some of the first that come to mind. These are not the only ones. It is important for yourself and your family to identify all of the things that you think can cause harm to you. Write them down. The next step will be to make a family emergency plan. We will discuss this next week. If you have questions regarding the identification of hazards, contact the EMA at 549-4575 or at ema@cityofgadsden.com.

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. This month, we will explore some ways to make you and your community more prepared for disasters. Being more prepared will make you safer, should a disaster occur. Here are the four steps which you can take to increase your preparedness level:

1. Identify hazards which threaten your community.
2. Make a family emergency plan.
3. Make an emergency preparedness kit.
4. Get involved in community efforts to help others be prepared.

We will apply these steps to two events that occurred within the last twenty years. These events are the Blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Katrina. Keep these two events in mind when reading about the four steps we will discuss this month. Think about how they could’ve been applied to help prevent some of the suffering that occurred as the result of these events.

We will release a new blog post each week this month. Each post will focus on one of the four steps you will need to take to be more prepared. Think critically about how well you and your family are following each step. Is there more you can do to be prepared? Do you have a friend, family member, or loved one who needs help getting prepared? Visit ready.gov for some great resources.

Etowah County Citizen's Corp Meeting

Influenza and Schools Q&A

Q: The recovery period for H1N1 (swine) flu was a week after getting the disease. Has that changed?

A: Yes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends that anyone who has flu-like symptoms to stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without the use of fever reducing measures. (Important side note: Doctors recommend NOT giving children and young adults asprin containing medicines for relief from flu like symptoms. Asprin used in viral infections is thought to be a cause of Reye's Syndrome).

Q: When will the flu vaccine be ready?

A: According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the seasonal flu vaccine should be ready later this month. The H1N1 vaccine should be ready in October or November.

Q: Who should get these vaccines?

A: ADPH recommends that everyone get the seasonal flu vaccine, with approval from your doctor. The CDC advises that the following groups will initially be the focus of vaccines for the H1N1 virus:

• Pregnant Women
• People from 6 months of age to 24 years.
• People with regular contact of infants who are younger than 6 months of age.
• Health care workers.
• People between 25 and 64 years old who have chronic health disorders.

After the initial focuse groups, the vaccine is expected to be offered to healthy adults.

Q: Will vaccinations be offered in school.

A: The ADPH is working with the Alabama Department of Education to implement a voluntary vaccination program in all Alabama public schools. In this program, all public school students and staff should be able to receive free H1N1 vaccinations.

Q: Are the vaccinations required?

A: No. Vaccinations, however, are the best way to avoid influenza infection according to the ADPH. Children will not be allowed to receive the vaccination without permission from parents. The ADPH and Alabama Department of Education anticipates sending permission slips out shortly before the vaccinations are administered.

Q: What other ways can my family and I avoid getting the swine flu?

A: You can avoid getting the swine flu (also known as H1N1) by taking everyday hygine steps that you would normally take. Regular hand washing is a big key. Avoiding contact with sick people. If you or someone in your family becomes infected with flu-like symptoms, take a few days off. Wait until you haven't had a fever for 24-hours without the benefit of fever reducting medication.

Stay up to date on H1N1 information by visiting the CDC or ADPH websites.

3rd Quarter LEPC Meeting

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 5, 2009 TIME: 8:00 a.m.

CONTACT: Michael Amberson, Public Information Officer 256.549.4575 (Office)

ema@cityofgadsden.com 256.328.2946 (Cell)

256.547.7952 (Fax)

LEPC Meeting

The quarterly meeting of Etowah County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will be held on Thursday August 6 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held inside the Arthur Green room located at Convention Hall in Gadsden.

The LEPC is comprised of members of the community, industry, and emergency responders who plan for hazardous materials incidents and ensure that local resources are adequate to handle an incident. Members of the public are welcomed to attend this meeting. For more information, please contact the Gadsden/Etowah Emergency Management Agency at 549-4575.

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Annual Update Campaign Begins for Special Needs Registry

For Immediate Release For more information contact:

July 17, 2009 Metro Services 256.236.8642

Annual update campaign begins for special needs registry

As part of its planning and response strategy for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) maintains a registry of people with special needs in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair and Talladega counties. Over 4,700 verification forms have been mailed to registered people with special needs in an effort to update their information.

A registered person with specials needs will receive a letter from AEMA, a verification form printed with their personal information and a postage-paid reply envelope. The registrant should review and update their personal information and return the verification form in the postage-paid reply envelope. Even if there are no changes to the information, the verification form should be returned to AEMA. The registrant can also update their information by calling 256.236.8642 or 800.263.0201.

The registry includes people who:

• Have a physical, mental or medical problem and cannot shelter in place or evacuate,
• Need transportation,
• Have children who are home alone, and
• Do not have nearby family, friends or neighbors who can provide assistance in an emergency

If you are a person with special needs, registering with AEMA is just one step in your emergency preparedness plan. Knowing what to do – before, during and after an emergency – will help you be prepared. People with special needs should create a help network of people who can assist them within minutes of an emergency. As part of the registration process, information will be provided to help you create an emergency preparedness plan. During an emergency, people should be prepared to protect themselves and help each other because county and state emergency services may not be able to respond quickly to the overwhelming number of requests for assistance that would occur.

If you have registered as a person with special needs and have not received a verification form, contact the Alabama Special Needs Population Program at 256.236.8642 or 800.263.0201. Text telephone users can call 256.236.8812. For more information about emergency preparedness or registering as a person with special needs, call the Alabama Special Needs Population Program or visit www.alabamaspp.com. You can also contact your county emergency management agency at: Gadsden/Etowah County 256.549.4575