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Emergency Management Division
Is your family ready?
John D. Moede, Emergency Management Coordinator
Emergency Management/Homeland Security Division
The City of Scottsdale (COS), the State of Arizona and the rest of the country are reeling from a very active emergency season with wildfires, hurricanes, flooding and earthquakes. The recent fires in Arizona and Texas remind all of us that unexpected events can easily catapult you, and your family, into confusion and disarray. As a society, we rely heavily upon government response to assist and guide us in the midst of these chaotic times. However, this reliance upon government becomes problematic when the emergency occurs in remote locations or when the number of calls for help exceed the government’s capability. The COS is committed to supporting and improving the health and well being of each of its residents, but this commitment should not suggest a decrease in self- reliance.
The first line of defense for response to any emergency situation is personal preparedness. Personal preparedness begins at home, and includes our families. The level of self- preparedness by COS residents directly impacts the overall mission of the COS when emergencies occur. Residents who take the time to prepare their families will feel more confident in their ability to help their neighbors. Preparedness also includes “training” of family members in skills such as when and how to shut off the gas, power, and water. Children can, and should, be included in this training. For example we teach teenagers how to change a flat tire but we don’t train them in how to use a fire extinguisher.
“Training” family members in how to think in an emergency can go miles toward saving your loved ones, or at least decreasing some of the stress related to these events. Most emergencies at home always seem to occur just after you have arrived at work. It often takes some time to return home due to distance or traffic. In that time period, someone at home could take steps to prevent a small problem from becoming a big problem. A small amount of extra food, water, medication, and pet food can go a long way to keep families away from the panic mentality.
“Training” also involves developing plans and practicing what to do if certain situations occur. For example what to take if the family was told to evacuate in the next 15 minutes or how to evacuate the home if there was a fire. In today’s technological dependency, how does a family communicate if cell phones are unable to be used? What instructions should children and /or family members have in case something goes wrong? Where should they meet their parents or other family members? Where is your nearest pay phone (do they even exist anymore?) and how much does it cost to call someone out of the area?
The City of Scottsdale has placed considerable resources relating to the health and well-being of its residents, however it is unrealistic of residents to assume the City can take care of everyone’s needs in the event of an emergency.
Emergencies can be very frightening experiences and many times are followed by the question, “what do I do now?” Personal and family preparedness can reduce some of that fear and minimize the impact of the event. Preparedness begins at home, and involves a little education and planning, training, and practicing. It does not require a lot of money or time and with a little ingenuity it can be fun. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Is your family ready?
Here are some resources that can help start or improve family preparedness:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/emergencies
http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/checklist.pdf
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/
elderlyheat.asp
http://www.fema.gov/kids/
http://www.ready.gov/kids/home.html
http://www.kidsprepareamerica.org
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/emergencies/monsoons.asp
Self Defense Against Disasters by Ed Copp (ISMN: 1-449-57850-0) available through Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=
search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=self+defense+against+disasters&
sprefix=self+defense+a
The FBI's Child ID App Putting
Safety in Your Hands
You're shopping at the mall with your children when one of them suddenly disappears. A quick search of the nearby area is unsuccessful. What do you do?
Now there's a free new tool from the FBI that can help. Our just launched Child ID app—the first mobile application created by the FBI—provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.
The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.
We encourage you to share the word about this app with family and friends, especially during upcoming activities in your communities to raise awareness on crime and drug prevention. For its part, the FBI is working to publicize the app with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)—its long-time partner in the National Child Identification Program, which provides a physical kit to gather your child’s pictures, fingerprints, personal characteristics, and even DNA to keep with you in case of emergency. The AFCA is producing a public service announcement about the app and will spread the word at various football games during the upcoming season.
Article from http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011
/august/child_080511/child_080511
Right now, the Child ID app is only available for use
on iPhones and can only be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes, but we plan to expand this tool to other types of mobile devices in the near future. And we’ll be adding new features—including the ability to upload other photos stored on your smart phone—in the coming weeks and months.
The FBI's new Child ID app can be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes.
Download App | View Gallery
Podcast: About the Child
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 From the Desk of Commander Burl Haenel
This month I wanted to let you know you’ll see some changes in the Via Linda District. I will be moving on to another assignment and Commander Bruce Ciolli will be taking over the reins of the District. He will be sending out his own introduction newsletter, so I won’t take his thunder. I will say this; you will be getting a well versed individual that is community oriented and always willing to talk about what’s on your mind. Please welcome him and feel free to call or e-mail him. We will get the website updated as soon as possible.
Now just a couple reminders: Don’t forget GAIN on October 29th. This is your opportunity to support Arizona’s version of National Night Out through a community gathering. We will also be looking forward to seeing you at a future neighborhood meeting and don’t forget about Halloween. I’ve listed some safety reminders, so take a look and watch out for the little ones.
With safety in mind, please remember that Halloween is just around the corner. It is one of the most exciting times of the year for children. Following a few simple guidelines will help make this fun filled night a safe one as well.
- Choose bright, flame-retardant costumes. The use of light sticks on a child’s costume can help to increase visibility.
- Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar areas with well-lit streets.
- Discuss basic pedestrian safety rules when walking to and from houses.
- Never send younger children out alone – they should be with a parent or guardian, or another trusted adult.
- Make sure children know their home phone number and address in case you get separated. If the child has a cell phone, make sure they have it with them. If not, a pair of walkie-talkies with a range of at least a few miles can help.
- Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don’t let them enter a home unless you are with them.
For further information on Halloween safety feel free to contact your Via Linda District crime prevention officer.
Commander Burl Haenel
480-312-5710
bhaenel@scottsdaleaz.gov
Upcoming Events
Document Shredding and Drug Collection Event– Saturday, October 8th 2011 from 8:00 a.m.– 11:00 am in the McKellips District parking lot located at 7601 E. McKellips Rd. Donations will be collected to benefit Family Promise a local transitional housing facility. Please contact Officer Jen Wattier at 480-312-0275 for more information. Click here for flier.
Electronic Recycling Day – Saturday, October 8th 2011 from 7:30am – 2 pm at the City Corporation Yard located at 9191 E. San Salvador. For additional information on the items collected, please go to http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/recycle/recyclingelectronics or call (480) 312-5600.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s Railfair 2011 – Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 7301 E. Indian Bend Road. This event is FREE but the train and carousel rides are $2.00 each. Children under three ride free with a paying adult. This free event features model train displays and exhibits, new 10,000 square foot Model Railroad Building displaying O, N, and HO scale trains, tours, moonwalks, and other entertainment. For additional information, please call (480) 312-2312 or visit: www.therailroadpark.com
Shredding Event at Sunflower Market to Benefit “Shop with a Cop” – Saturday October 29th, 2011 from 10:00am– 2:00 pm there will be shredding trucks in the Sunflower Market parking lot to conduct on-site shredding of personal documents. Donations will be accepted to benefit POSA’s Shop with a Cop Event to be held in December. Please contact Officer Kevin Watts at 480-312-2496 for more information. Click here for flier.
G.A.I.N. Night 2011: Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods – October 29th, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The location of the event is in your own neighborhoods. G.A.I.N., Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods, is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to help create safer neighborhoods. Formerly known as National Night Out, G.A.I.N. encourages residents to get together in their respective communities to promote safety, neighborhood communication and celebrate the successes of crime prevention through community involvement. Register your G.A.I.N. party at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/safety/gain today and you could be visited by various City employees, departments and elected officials! For additional information, please contact Joy Racine, jracine@scottsdaleaz.gov or (480) 312-2342.
Public Safety Community Contact Numbers
and E-mail Links
- Scottsdale Police Non-Emergency 480-312-5000
- Scottsdale Fire Department 480-312-8000
- SPD Drug Enforcement Hotline - Suspected illegal activity, 480-312-TIPS (Hot lines are not monitored)
- SPD Traffic Enforcement Hotline - chronic traffic problems, 480-312-CARS
- Code Enforcement 480-312-2546
- Child Safety Seat Installation 480-312-BABY
- CPR/First Aid Classes 480-312-1817
- Lockbox Program 877-229-5042
For more information on crime prevention or additional opportunities to get involved in YOUR community contact Crime Prevention Officer Kort Sneed at 480-312-5696, email: ksneed@scottsdaleaz.gov, or District 3 Police Aide Terri Terlazzo at 480-312-8292, email: tterlazzo@scottsdaleaz.gov.
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