TOWN PARTICIPATED IN STATEWIDE DRILL TODAY Thank you to Emergency Management Director, Bernie Meehan, who worked with the First Selectman and Public Works Foreman to participate in this statewide preparedness drill. Roxbury is Ready!! ******************************************* GOV. MALLOY: STATEWIDE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILL TO BE HELD THIS WEEK Two-Day Exercise Will Simulate a Major Ice Storm in Western Connecticut (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that a two-day statewide emergency preparedness drill designed to simulate a major ice storm in the western part of the state will take place on June 20 and 22. Coordinated by the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the exercise is designed, among other things, to improve communication between the state’s utility companies and state and local governments during emergencies and to test the state’s mutual aid system. “We must always look to improve the way we respond to an emergency so that when disaster strikes, the state’s utility companies and every level of government have a clear mission and goal,” Governor Malloy said. “Storms and other emergencies are inevitable, but the more we all work together, the more we can limit the impact of those disasters so that aid reaches those most in need of help; roads, schools and businesses can re-open more quickly; and communities can return to normal sooner than might otherwise be possible.” “This exercise continues our commitment to ensure that the people of Connecticut receive the timely, coordinated response they deserve when the next inevitable catastrophe hits,” Lt. Governor Wyman said. “These two days will create a blueprint of how we can improve our preparation heading into the height of hurricane season.” The two-day exercise will be segmented into two, one-day drills. Each day’s drill is designed to test a specific, unique set of protocols dealing with the response to and recovery from the storm. The exercise is part of Governor Malloy’s ongoing Emergency Preparedness and Planning Initiative (EPPI), which began in 2011. Overall goals of the exercise include: • Improving Communications for Road Clearing & Utility Restoration: Utility company crews will be working with certain towns to exercise the “Make Safe” protocol that will enhance road clearance processes and communication. • Activating Local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and Convening Unified Command: All participating municipalities and Tribal Nations will have key local officials and leaders meet at their local EOC to simulate preparedness, response, and recovery planning. • Establishing Coordinated Emergency Shelters: Certain municipalities will exercise regional shelters in coordination with the Red Cross. • Regional Emergency Support Plans: Each DEMHS Region will be reviewing their Regional Emergency Support Plans and implementing them as needed during the exercise, with particular focus being given to: Transportation, Logistics, Hospital Surge Capacity, and Communications. At Governor Malloy’s direction, state agencies are also fully participating, including a test of each agency’s Continuity of Operations Plan. State officials will also support state and local emergency operations through the staffing of the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Hartford, which will be activated during the exercise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a very active hurricane season with 13 to 20 named storms. Around 7 to 11 of them could become hurricanes, with 3 to 6 possibly becoming major hurricanes. This is well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:31:23 +0000
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