September is Preparedness Month in North Carolina and Warren County Emergency Management officials are encouraging residents and businesses to be prepared for any disaster by reviewing their emergency plans and updating their emergency supply kits.

“We all need to be prepared for any event, whether it’s a manmade emergency or a weather event, and the best way to do that is to begin with an emergency plan and putting together a supply kit that will help you and your loved ones survive for three to seven days without assistance,” said Chris Tucker, County Emergency Manager. “If you have a family emergency plan and practice it, the chances of your family surviving a disaster increases exponentially, add an up-to-date emergency supply kit and your chances increase even more. Being flexible and able to respond quickly in an emergency is important and the best way to do that is to be prepared and practice your plan and have contingency so you can pivot if needed.”

Warren County Emergency Services encourages residents, schools and business owners to make an emergency plan and practice it routinely with other household members, staff or employees. The plan should include details about where to meet, how to get in touch with one another, evacuation plans, what to do with pets and how to notify employees after an emergency.

“It’s important to include a place to go in your plan should you need to evacuate, such as staying with family, friends or at a hotel; A shelter should be a plan of last resort,” Chris Tucker said. “Be sure to have weather-appropriate clothing in your emergency supply kit, and that everything is up to date, such as fresh batteries. Check to be sure any food is still good and include items needed for survival regardless of the emergency.”

Basic items that should be in an emergency kit are:

* Water – 1 gallon per person per day for 3 to 7 days
* Food – non-perishable and canned food supply for 3 to 7 days
* Hand sanitizer
* Sanitizing wipes
* Battery-powered or hand crank radio and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with extra batteries
* Cell phone with charger
* First aid kit and first aid book
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Manual can opener for food
* Wrench or pliers to turn off water
* Blanket or sleeping bag – 1 per person
* Prescription medications, glasses and hearing aids
* Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes
* Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine supplies
* Extra house and car keys
* Important documents – insurance policies, copy of driver’s license, Social Security card, bank account records
* Fire extinguisher
* Cash and change
* Books, games or cards

Code Red

CodeRED – Seconds Count in an Emergency
Warren County has instituted the CodeRED Emergency Notification System – an ultra-high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the County in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child or evacuation notices). The system is capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It then delivers our recorded message to a live person or an answering machine, making three attempts to connect to any number. Get Started.

This system will only be used for emergency purposes.

Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized:

* Drinking water contamination
* Bomb threat
* Chemical spill or Gas leak
* Evacuation notices and route
* Fires or Floods
* Hostage situation
* Missing person
* Other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety
* Utility outage

For more emergency preparedness information, visit ReadyNC.gov.

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Warren County Emergency Management has been named one of only twenty-four emergency management teams to receive funding from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Capacity Building Competitive Grants program for emergency management agencies. The county will receive $383,500 toward improvements at the John Graham Gym, which will become the county’s central emergency shelter.

The funds from this grant will assist in the renovation of the John Graham gym in order to provide shelter during emergency events, such as hurricanes, ice storms, and any disasters where citizens are displaced.

“I would like to thank the NC DPS for providing these funds,” commented County Manager Vincent Jones. “I’d also like to commend Chief Bartholomew and our Emergency Manager, Captain Chris Tucker, for their diligence in identifying a need and pursuing a solution that will allow us to increase our ability to recover from disasters we may face.”

Jones stated that these funds will provide an emergency shelter that has all the required amenities to properly provide temporary shelter to Warren County residents in a time of need.

“This project will be a game-changer for our citizens that may become displaced during a disaster. This shelter project will be one of only a few in North Carolina,” stated Emergency Manager Chris Tucker.

Tucker also thanked Karen Solomon, Emergency services Senior Administrative Assistant, for her team work with this project.

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Warren County Emergency Management encourages residents to plan now for hurricanes by updating their emergency plans and supply kits. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th.

“In order to protect you and your family, the time to get prepared for a tropical storm such as a hurricane, or any disaster, is now,” said Chris Tucker, Warren County Emergency Manager. “Begin by having a plan and a survival kit. They are not complicated to create.”

“Visit ReadyNC.gov, and you can download a plan template,” continued Tucker. “You’ll find a list of items to include in your kit. You and your family should also take the time to practice your emergency plan so everyone knows where to go and who to contact when disaster strikes.”

If you have an emergency plan, now is also the time to make sure all of the information is up to date and talk to your neighbors about their plans, especially those who may need assistance, such as senior citizens. Typically, there is a great deal of advance warning that a hurricane is coming. If your plan and kit are up-to-date that gives you ample time to mitigate damage to your home or business by taking some commonsense measures, such as trimming trees, covering windows, securing loose outdoor items and more.

To encourage residents to prepare, the National Weather Service has declared May 1-7 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in North Carolina. Warren County residents should take this time to review and practice their emergency plans.

Warren County Emergency Management Division urges Warren County families and businesses to write down their plan and gather important documents, such as copy of their driver’s license, insurance policies, medical records, and bank account statements, and put them somewhere they can quickly access in case of emergency. Assemble an emergency supplies kit that includes enough non-perishable food and water to last each family member three to seven days. Other essential items include:

• First-aid kit
• Weather radio and batteries
• Prescription medicines
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Changes of clothes
• Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
• Cash
• Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records
• Face masks and hand-sanitizer

Make sure to review and update homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies to ensure they include coverage for damage, natural disasters and flood insurance.

Warren County residents should stay informed during severe weather by using a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information and should know evacuation routes in their community. When asked to evacuate, residents should leave the area immediately.

“Having a plan and being prepared improves your chances of surviving and recovering from the damage of severe weather,” said Tucker. “If you’re asked to evacuate due to potential danger, you should do so. You’ll not only be protecting yourself but also emergency responders who may have to risk their lives to save you if you don’t evacuate.”

More information on hurricanes and overall emergency preparedness is online at www.ReadyNC.gov or you may contact the Warren County Emergency Management office at (252) 257-1191.

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