Advisory (Yellow)
Routine travel or activities may be restricted
in areas because of a hazardous situation.
Citizens should use caution or avoid these
areas. Schools and businesses may begin to
implement their emergency action plans.
Watch (Orange)
Conditions are threatening to the safety of the
public. Only essential travel is recommended
(i.e., to and from work, emergency situations,
etc.). Emergency action plans have been or
should now be implemented by businesses,
schools, government agencies and other
organizations.
Warning (RED)
Travel may be restricted to emergency
personnel only. Citizens are directed to
refrain from all travel, comply with necessary
emergency measures, cooperate with public
officials and disaster services forces in
executing emergency operations plans, and
comply with the directions of properly
identified officers. Further and more specific
restrictions may be included in the disaster
declaration.
Q: What does the Emergency Proclamation say about travel?
A: Due to the above conditions all citizens are advised to stay off the roads unless driving to work or have an emergency which requires them to be on the roads. Any Vehicle blocking or stranded on an unincorporated road will be removed from the road as deemed necessary by the snow removal crews or emergency personnel. Delaware County will not be liable for damages or expenses associated with removal of vehicles.
Q: Can the City or County restrict traveling on the roads completely?
A: Yes, while very rare and under extreme conditions, the County Commissioner and the Mayor have the right to close the roads completely. This information will be added to any Emergency Proclamation signed by the City or the County and traffic enforcement will be the responsibility of the police. You are further restricted from all travel if the situation calls for a total restriction as documented in the Emergency Proclamation.
Q. What can happen if I go out on the roads?
A. If you become stuck during a declared emergency and you block any emergency vehicle you may be pushed out of the way by any means necessary. Any damage to your vehicle or that is the direct result of
your vehicle obstructing an emergency vehicle you will be billed for the damage.
Q. Will I get a ticket if I go out?
A. The short answer is maybe! Although, Government Officials may impose fines on anyone who creates a travel problem (becoming stuck, blocking the roadway, abandoning a vehicle) and the police will ticket any motorist who created a hazard or breaks the law. If the situation was bad all roadway travel may be totally restricted.
Q. What if I have to go to work?
A. Many employers must stay open (Hospital, Nursing Homes, Veterinarians). Please check with your employer to see if you have a policy for emergency travel or necessary staff . You will not be stopped if you are on the roadway. But, travel with great caution. If you get stuck and become a traffic hazard you will be responsible for any damages or expenses associated with the removal of your vehicle.
Q. Do I have to go to work during if an emergency is declared?
A. This is a question to ask your employer. Although our recommendation is to always use caution, only your employer can impose a work stoppage and allow you to not to report to work. Any business closure is at the discretion of the business owner.
Q. How do I get proof of the snow emergency?
A. Visit the link to the Travel Status Map and print off the PDF file for proof of Delaware County's status.
http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/
A. NOAA's National Weather Service issues Winter Storm Outlooks when forecasters believe there is a good chance of a major winter storm. A Winter Storm Watch is issued to alert the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet. Winter Storm Warnings are issued when a hazardous winter weather event is imminent or occurring, and is considered a threat to life and property. Finally, a Winter Weather Advisory is issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet that will cause significant inconveniences and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.
The importance of the Travel Advisory System is to help the public get a picture of what our community is dealing with . You must realize that each situation is different and that if you go out to see how bad it is you may become part of the problem. Please watch the local media outlets as well as the social networking sites for updates. Follow Emergency Management on facebook and Twitter as well as the local Government websites.
A TORNADO WATCH means conditions are favorable for severe weather.
A TORNADO WARNING
Issued by local NWS offices to warn the public that a tornado has been sighted by storm spotters or has been indicated by radar.
These warnings are issued with information concerning where the tornado is presently located and what communities are in the anticipated path of the tornado.
Outdoor Warning Sirens are primarily used to warn your community of severe weather conditions. The outdoor sirens are also used for other emergencies such as a hazardous chemical spill which requires residents to evacuate their homes.
Sirens are effectively used to warn people of possible threats to their safety when they are outdoors. You may not be able to hear the sirens or be in an area that is not protected by the outdoor sirens!
Sirens may be the financial responsibility of various agencies, depending on where they are located. Sirens located in small towns may be the responsibility to maintain by those communities. Most sirens are over 30 years old and it can be difficult to find replacement parts. In addition there are currently no annual budgeted funds within Delaware County government to fund any repairs or upgrades.
The outdoor warning sirens are tested weekly on Friday at 11am. The test may be cancelled if any severe weather is anticipated to reduce any confusion of the test with actual severe weather.
When you hear a steady tone, it means that a tornado has been sighted in Delaware County or the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Delaware County.
When OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS are activated:
Often times when severe weather threatens, high winds, rain and other atmospheric conditions limit the range that the sirens can be heard outdoors, and nearly impossible to hear indoors, even if close by. If weather is severe enough, power may be out and the sirens may not function. You should have ways to receive notifications from the National Weather Service such as a Weather Alert Radio (see below) or an app for your phone that provides local severe weather alerts. Use common sense, if weather looks threatening and you see lightning or hear thunder, take shelter quickly.
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System , NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).
Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes 1000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz):
Please protect your family with a All Hazard NOAA Weather Radio! Not just a weather radio but a mass notification system to protect your family from all hazards and emergency situations.
Delaware County /Muncie transmitting frequency is 162.425 Call Sign KJY93 providing a 1000 watts alerting system. Delaware County S.A.M.E. Code: 018035
Why are they called outdoor warning sirens?
The sirens are called outdoor warning sirens because their primary purpose is to alert people who are outside to severe weather, chemical, or other emergencies. The system is not designed to provide notification inside of your home or business.
What should I do if I hear an outdoor warning siren?
If you hear an outdoor warning siren you should seek shelter inside immediately. Once inside, you should turn on a television or weather radio to learn further information. Local officials will be disseminating information about the emergency through these outlets
When should I expect to hear an outdoor warning siren?
The outdoor warning sirens are tested on the Friday of each week at 11:00 am to ensure they are working properly. If there is any type of severe weather threat in the area during the scheduled test time, the test will be cancelled - this is to prevent confusion between the test and actual severe weather.
Outdoor Warning Sirens are placed in areas of dense population, areas where people congregate outdoor (sports parks, city parks, schools, etc..) They are also placed in small towns and sometimes have a dual role of alerting the volunteer fire departments to fire calls.
After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. This website is designed to help make that communication easier.
American Red Cross Safe and Well
All Information Provided from www.noaa.gov
Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and an average of 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes. And this on top of winter storms, intense summer heat, high winds, wild fires and other deadly weather impacts. You can make sure your community is ready for the weather with the National Weather Service's StormReady® program.
StormReady is a nationwide community preparedness program that uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle all types of severe weather from tornadoes to tsunamis. The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations by providing emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.
To be officially StormReady, a community must:
* Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
* Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public
* Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally
* Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars
* Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
For more information on what is required for your community see the "How to Become StormReady" page.
Family Disaster Planning |
Disaster Plan For Businesses
Having a plan of how your business will respond to a disaster or emergency will help you take action recover quickly.
Download the Disaster Planning Template for Businesses (PDF)
Continuity of Operations Overview
Continuity of Operations Self-Assessment Tool
Continuity of Operations (COOP) for Businesses (online presentation)
Disaster Plan For Events
If you or your organization is planning a large event, it is important (and sometimes required) to have a Emergency Plan. Due to recent events, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency has been inundated with requests for special event safety or emergency plans. Due to the overwhelming number of request, we are unable to provide specific plans for each and every community event. We have provided an Emergency Action Planning Guide (EAPG) to give you the tools you need to create an emergency plan for your event. Making an event emergency plan is the first step to event safety awareness.
Download the Event Disaster Planning Template (PDF)
http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/34326
http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/EmergencyPlan_REV6_0.pdf
http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/FamEmePlan_2013.pdf
http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/checklist3.pdf
http://www.ready.gov/kids/games
http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit
http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-disaster-preparedness-kit-141425
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Your-Own-Emergency-Disaster-Kit
http://www.areavibes.com/library/earthquake-safety-guide/
Family Emergency Plan
A unique brochure containing information for pet owners and suggestions for proactive pet emergency preparedness.
· "Prepare For Emergencies Now: Information For Pet Owners" (PDF - 354 Kb)
This is a full-color, two-sided, tri-fold brochure.
A unique brochure with information specific to Older Americans and tips on how to prepare for emergency situations
· "Prepare For Emergencies Now: Information For Older Americans" (PDF - 545 Kb)
This is a full-color, two-sided, quad-fold brochure.
A unique brochure with information specific to Americans with disabilities and other access and functional needs regarding emergency preparedness.
· "Prepare For Emergencies Now: Information For People With Disabilities." (PDF - 334Kb)
This is a full-color, two-sided, quad-fold brochure.
While it may not take place on a large scale very often, disasters and emergencies do happen in Delaware County, Indiana.
Most all emergencies, a victim or a bystander provides the first immediate assistance on the scene, rendering first aid or calling 911.
That's why the Delaware County EMA and Indiana Department of Homeland Security are partnering, courtesy of a grant received by Delaware County EMA, in a series ofCommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT)workshops.
The workshops are be beneficial to individuals, families, neighborhood groups and companies.
People who attend CERT training will achieve a better understanding of threats to their home, workplace and community and will also be able to step in and help local first responders in the event an emergency is overwhelming.
Because everyday people are usually the first on the scene of vehicle and workplace incidents, those with CERT training will be able to provide useful aid and information to first responders when they arrive.
CERT members will learn basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, search and rescue, and some medical techniques.
There will be multiple opportunities to take part in this potentially life-saving training provided by, Delaware County EMA.
Community leaders, business owners and employees, manufacturing facility representatives, educational leaders, volunteer organizations, parents, faith-based groups, county and city employees, utility workers and anyone with a desire to participate are encouraged to sign up.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
To register for the free class, or to host the training class with 15 or more students, send an email with a name, any company or organization a person represents, and a phone number to be contacted at to staylor@co.delaware.in.us
The Delaware County EMA SRT is an all-volunteer professional team that provides emergency service and support for all first responding agencies in Delaware County.
Services Provided Include:
How to request EMA SRT Resources?
EMA Resources require an official request from first responding agencies (Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement) or elected officials through the 911 Communications (Dispatch Center) for emergency situations. For non-emergency requests, such as planned future events, resources can be requested directly from EMA.
Join an elite group of individuals who provide special skills and resources that makes our community a safer place to live. Inspiration through professionalism.
Interested in joining the SRT? Fill out an application today!