September 26, 2005

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICIALS LAUNCH PUBLIC EMERGENCY EDUCATION PROGRAM

CONTACTS: Jerry Remillard, 802-254-4541 ext. 101

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.— The Local Emergency Planning Committee and the emergency management directors in the five towns of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Halifax, and Vernon are launching a first-of-its-kind community information and education program for all-hazards emergency awareness. The program, titled 1, 2, KNOW WHAT TO DO, is aimed at all residents of the five towns.

“This program is about knowing what to do in the event of an emergency,” said Jerry Remillard, Brattleboro town manager and emergency management director. “The primary focus of the program,” Remillard said, “is to inform the public that when they hear the emergency alert they should: one, turn on their radios and two, follow the instructions.”

Remillard stressed that the town siren is not a signal to evacuate; it is an alert for people to tune in to one of the local Emergency Alert System radio stations, which in the greater Brattleboro area are: WTSA 1450 AM and 96.7 FM, WKVT 1490 AM and 92.7 FM, and WVAY 100.7 FM.

Speaking on behalf of the five emergency planning directors, Remillard said that although the Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee power station in Vernon frequently comes to mind in terms of emergency planning, there are numerous potential hazards that threaten the five-town district with far greater probability. A number of existing conditions in southeastern Vermont put residents at risk: the railroad and Interstate 91 with their daily transports of hazardous materials; flooding from the Connecticut River and its tributaries; and the prevalence of severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms, snow and ice storms, hurricanes, and even tornadoes.

Remillard added that the all-hazards plan also includes radiological emergencies and biohazards resulting from terrorism and pandemic disease.

“Education is a key factor in maximizing the safety of all in the community,” Remillard said, outlining the 1, 2, KNOW WHAT TO DO program’s four goals:

• To inform people what to do in the event of an emergency
• To educate people about the possible hazards in our area
• To encourage area residents and businesses to develop their own emergency plans
• To instill in the public-at-large the importance of emergency preparedness to the overall safety of our communities.

The 1, 2, KNOW WHAT TO DO program incorporates a number of resources to teach people of all ages about preparedness and what they can do to be as safe as possible in a number of emergency situations. Those resources include an interactive website, household emergency information materials, community events, school resources and handouts, to name a few.

Funding for the program is through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The Town of Brattleboro is administering the program in conjunction with a steering committee of emergency planners from the five-town all-hazards district and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, which was created to address potential local hazards.

A survey, in which random calls were made to residents in each of the five towns, was conducted this past June. The purpose of the survey was to learn how informed the public is about issues regarding a variety of emergency situations. The findings showed that the majority of people were not familiar with the existence of an all-hazards plan, nor did they know what to do when they heard an alert.

“The 1, 2, KNOW WHAT TO DO program aims to change that,” commented Remillard. A follow-up survey will be undertaken next year at the end of the public information program to gauge if the local citizenry is better informed.

The All-Hazards Public Information and Education Program is being developed and implemented by HowellMartin Marketing and Advertising, Inc., and may serve as a prototype for all-hazards plans in towns throughout the state, Remillard said.

 

###