[CALV-ARES] From CALV ARES EC: Stay Informed, Be Vigilant and Prepare

Fri Apr 19 13:19:52 EDT 2013

TO: CALV ARES STATIONS

DATE:  April 19, 2013

Stay Informed, Be Vigilant, Prepare

In the aftermath of this week s explosions at the Boston Marathon and the
reported Ricin-tainted mail to elected officials, you may be wondering what
you can do to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. Officials in the
National Capital Region encourage residents to take three simple steps:

1. Stay Informed
2. Be Vigilant
3. Prepare

1. Stay Informed:

There is no information of any specific threats to the National Capital
Region at this time. Here are numerous ways to ensure timely receipt when
there is emergency information disseminated:

* Visit Capitalert.gov< <http://www.capitalert.gov/>
http://www.capitalert.gov/> to register for emergency alerts from your local
jurisdiction. If you live in one place and work in another, be sure to sign
up for alerts from both localities. You'll be able to get alerts delivered
to your email account(s) and as text messages to your cellphone.
* Check your local jurisdiction s website; sign up for email news alerts or
RSS feeds.
* Add links to the mobile versions of websites to your smartphone for
example, your locality, FEMA< <http://m.fema.gov/> http://m.fema.gov/>, the
American Red Cross< <http://www.redcross.org/mobile>
http://www.redcross.org/mobile>, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention< <http://m.cdc.gov/> http://m.cdc.gov/> (CDC) and the National
Weather Service< <http://mobile.weather.gov/> http://mobile.weather.gov/>.
* Follow social media sites for your local government, such as Twitter and
Facebook.
* Add apps to your smartphone. Many jurisdictions have their own apps, as
well as the American Red Cross<
<http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps>
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps> and FEMA<
<http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app> http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app>.
* Bookmark www.CapitalRegionUpdates.gov<
<http://www.CapitalRegionUpdates.gov> http://www.CapitalRegionUpdates.gov>
for regional news and information, weather reports and links to valuable
preparedness and response resources.

*Emergency Alerts for Calvert County:

Code RED:
https://cne.coderedweb.com/Default.aspx?groupid=x40V2dUECBcQAGUgwDCWmg%3d%3d

*Emergency Information
Calvert County has a hazard mitigation plan that identifies various hazards
and the probability of occurrence. For the most current and official
information, tune to Comcast channel 6 in Calvert County or one of the
identified EAS radio stations: 

*        WSMD 98.3 FM Mechanicsville 

*	WKIK 102.9 FM / 1560 AM California and La Plata 
*	WPRS 104.1 FM La Plata 
*	WYRX 97.7 FM Lexington Park 
*	WPTX 1690 AM Lexington Park 

Repeater:  146.985 MHz, PL 156.7, Offset (NEG), if repeater is DOWN listen
on 146.985 Simplex.  Review ARES Quick Reference Document and ARES Ops Plan.

2. Be Vigilant

Always be aware of your surroundings from your workplace to your
neighborhood to a mall to public transportation. Remember, if you see
something, say something. < <http://www.securetransit.org/>
http://www.securetransit.org/>

Write down or save the hotline phone number to report suspicious activities.
If you cannot easily locate someone in uniform, call one of the following
numbers:

* Washington, D.C.: 202-962-2121
* Maryland: 1-800-492-TIPS (8477)
* Virginia: 1-877-4VA-TIPS (482-8477)
For imminent threats, call 9-1-1.

You can also submit information through online forms through the;

*       Federal Bureau of Investigation  <https://tips.fbi.gov/>
https://tips.fbi.gov/

*       District of Columbia Police Department
<http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/iwatch-reporting-suspicious-activity>
http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/iwatch-reporting-suspicious-activity

*       MarylandStatePolice<
<http://www.mdsp.org/Organization/FieldOperationsBureau/Barracks/BarrackIEas
ton/ReportSuspiciousActivity.aspx>
http://www.mdsp.org/Organization/FieldOperationsBureau/Barracks/BarrackIEast
on/ReportSuspiciousActivity.aspx> 

Virginia s Fusion Center<
<http://www.vsp.state.va.us/FusionCenter/Report_Suspicious_Activity.shtm>
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/FusionCenter/Report_Suspicious_Activity.shtm

3. Prepare

Mobile devices are an important way to stay informed and connected before,
during and after an emergency. Here are some tips to prepare yourself and
your mobile device; more information is online<
<http://www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready> http://www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready>:

* Communicate with friends and family via text, email, Twitter, Facebook and
other social media. Texting takes less bandwidth than phone calls and is
often the best way to get through to each other in an emergency.

* Make sure your mobile phone has an electric charger, inverter or solar
charger.

* If you lose power, you can charge your cellphone in your car. Just be sure
your car is in a well-ventilated place (remove it from the garage) and do
not go to your car until any danger has passed. You can also listen to your
car radio for important news alerts.

* If you do not have a cellphone, keep a prepaid phone card to use if needed
during or after a disaster.
* Save important phone numbers to your phone.

* Prepare a family contact sheet. This should include at least one
out-of-town contact that may be better able to reach family members in an
emergency.

You should also prepare simple plans< <http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan>
http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan> such as a Family Communications Plan<
<http://www.ready.gov/family-communications>
http://www.ready.gov/family-communications> and emergency contact cards<
<http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/FamEmePlan_Child_F
ields.pdf>
http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/FamEmePlan_Child_Fi
elds.pdf> for your children. Virginia residents can also create a family
emergency plan or a business emergency plan at ReadyNoVa.org<
<http://www.readynova.org/> http://www.readynova.org/>.

Stay Informed, Be Vigilant, Prepare
This week s events should remind us all that emergencies can and do occur at
any time and in any location. The best thing to do to ensure your safety is
to take these simple actions stay informed, be vigilant and prepare NOW!

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