Embedded Files
Creating A Culture of Preparedness
Among the many things we have learned in our region from Hurricane Matthew and the record flooding that followed in 2016 is just how important it is for all of us to be proactively engaged in the development of a culture of preparedness — at home, work, church, school and in the community. Listed below are various tools and resources that can help! [ Click here to Learn More! ]
Sign up for Alerts & Updates
If you are a resident of Robeson County and have not already done so, sign up for Robeson County’s CodeRed Emergency Notification System. Also visit ReadyNC.org to download their mobile app and to get more information!
Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
NC DHHS Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing works to ensure that all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind North Carolinians have the ability to communicate their needs and to receive information easily and effectively in all aspects of their lives, especially their health and well-being.
Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
DSDHH Emergency Preparedness Videos
Ready. gov |Make a Plan
Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. [ Learn More! ]
Additional Ready.gov Resources
Make A Plan (Video)
Ready Rating: A FREE Service from the American Red Cross | Ready Rating is a program that helps businesses, schools and organizations become prepared for disasters and other emergencies. All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property. Whether you are taking your first steps or have a fully-functioning emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness.
Create Your Family Emergency Communication Plan
“This document outlines three steps to take to create your Family Emergency Communication Plan: collect contact information for your family and other important contacts; make sure everyone carries a copy of this information with them; and have regular household meetings to review and practice your plan. This document also includes fillable wallet-sized cards—simply type in your information for your family and other important contacts and then print them.”
“This Playbook contains a conversation guide to help you lead a discussion and a tabletop exercise scenario to help you test your capability to respond to a simulated hurricane.”
“This Organizational Tabletop Exercises PowerPoint deck includes sample tabletop exercises for the following six hazards: earthquakes, winter storms, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes.”
When business is disrupted, it can cost money. Lost revenues plus extra expenses means reduced profits. Insurance does not cover all costs and cannot replace customers that defect to the competition. A business continuity plan to continue business is essential.
Ready.gov | Business Continuity Webpage
Business Quadfold Brochure
This download is a two-sided, four-color quad-fold document
"Prepare For Emergencies Now; Information for Businesses" (PDF)
Ready Business Poster
A full color poster with a brief description pertaining to business preparedness
Ready Business Poster (PDF)
Business Continuity Plan
A business continuity plan that includes recovery strategies to overcome the disruption of business should be developed.
Business Continuity Plan (PDF)
Business Impact Analysis Worksheet
A business impact analysis (BIA) predicts the consequences of disruption of a business function and process and gathers information needed to develop recovery strategies.
Business Impact Analysis Worksheet (PDF)
Continuity Resource Worksheet
Business continuity impact analysis identifies the effects resulting from disruption of business functions and processes. It also uses information to make decisions about recovery priorities and strategies.
Continuity Resource Worksheet (PDF)
Emergency Response Plan
Plans to protect people, property and the environment should be developed. Plans should include evacuation, sheltering in place and lockdown as well as plans for other types of threats identified during the risk assessment.
Emergency Response Plan (PDF)
Emergency Response Plan Resources
Resources are needed for all phases of preparing your business including prevention/deterrence, mitigation, emergency response, business continuity, crisis communications and disaster recovery.
Emergency Response Plan Resources (PDF)
Insurance Discussion Coverage Form
Inadequate insurance coverage can lead to a major financial loss if your business is damaged, or operations are interrupted for a period of time.
Insurance Discussion Coverage Form (PDF)
Program Coordinator Committee Worksheet
Key employees should be organized as a program committee that will assist in the development, implementation and maintenance of the preparedness program.
Program Coordinator Committee Worksheet (PDF)
Risk Assessment Table
Consider the different types of disasters that could impact your company and the likelihood that they might occur.
Risk Assessment Table (PDF)
Ready Business Mentoring Guide
Ready Business Mentoring Guide Mentor Edition (PDF)Ready Business Mentoring Guide User Edition (PDF)
Developing a Culture of Preparedness: Fire Prevention
Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm this winter season, be fire smart!
For example, there are many disaster survivors that are still working diligently to recover. Some are living in homes that are on waiting lists to be repaired or rebuilt as a result of floodwater inundation and/or severe water damage from leaky roofs. Seek professional guidance to determine if water or moisture damage could have affected electrical wiring, utility boxes, outlets, duct work, heating air & cooling units, insulation, and more.
> 905 people die in winter home fires each year.
> $2,091,000,000 in property loss occurs from winter home fires.
> 67 percent of winter fires occur in one- and two-family homes.
> Cooking is the leading cause of all winter home fires.
> 5 to 8 p.m. is the most common time for winter home fires.
Source: National Fire Incident Reporting System 2009-2011
Learn more @ www.usfa.fema.gov
Keep children safe from fire danger
• Children under the age of 4 are at a higher risk of home fire injury and death than older children.
•Most child deaths are in homes without working smoke alarms.
•Teach all children what the smoke alarm sounds like.
•Be aware that children may sleep through the sound of the smoke alarm
•Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves.
•You will need to wake babies and very young children and help them get out.
•Teach older children how to get outside if there is a fire.
•Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot.
–Space heaters and stovetops can cause terrible burns.
•Lock up any items that can start a fire (matches, lighters, cigarettes, etc.).
•Make sure children cannot reach candles.
Take Action!
It is important to test your existing smoke detectors regularly - especially if you plan to heat your home or apartment this winter with space heaters or kerosene heaters. If you are a member of a low income family and do not have a smoke detector call our local Sandhills Chapter / Robeson County Branch at (910) 738-5057 and you may be eligible to receive one for free through the “Home Fire Campaign.” If you would like to become an American Red Cross volunteer in order to help develop a culture of preparedness in Robeson County call 910-738-5057.
Sesame Street Fire Safety Program preschool curriculum
The curriculum includes an educator’s guide for teachers, a CD of songs and stories, a family guide, a coloring and activity booklet, and a poster to help educators reach preschoolers with simple, memorable fire safety messages.
For more preparedness tools & resources visit:
www.rcdrc.com/preparedness
www.usfa.fema.gov
www.redcross.org
www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/ready
WRN Ambassadors--
Late summer can bring with it warm ocean water, the first refreshing cold front, and back to school routines. Late summer, however, can hang on to extreme heat, ramp up tropical activity, and require continued preparedness efforts. Here are several opportunities for you and your organization to learn about available resources, consider opportunities to provide feedback, and participate in events.
(1) As the 2024 Hurricane Season Ramps Up, So Should Preparedness
The latest NOAA seasonal hurricane outlook update continues to predict well above average activity for the Atlantic Basin. Share hurricane preparedness content with co-workers, your loved ones, and across social media.
https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
Also, check out the National Hurricane Center's "Inside the Eye" blog.
The latest post describes the experimental version of the cone of uncertainty that depicts both coastal and inland wind risks.
(2) Community Preparedness Resources for Extreme Heat
The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) has released two new resources to support communities and local leaders with heat planning efforts:
The Introduction to Heat Tabletop Planning and Coordination describes the steps and timeline necessary for communities to develop and run a heat tabletop exercise. Tabletop exercises allow communities to test their response to high-impact heat events through simulated exercises, so they can identify strengths and areas for further improvement.
The Maturity Model for Heat Governance presents a framework that leaders and decision-makers can use to assess their capacity to successfully manage heat risk across 10 unique dimensions. When used over time, the maturity model can help communities track their continued progress toward building heat resilience.
Visit heat.gov to download these resources and get more information.
(3) Register for the Cold Product Suite Changes Webinar
The NWS is hosting a public webinar for our partners and users to prepare for the upcoming Hazard Simplification changes to our cold-related product suite. The webinar will be held on Thursday, September 5, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM EDT / 10:00 to 11:00 AM PDT. This event is open to all NWS partners and users, including Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors, media, emergency management, and federal, state, tribal, and local government representatives. Please register here for the webinar.
The NWS’s ongoing Hazard Simplification project (Haz Simp) is designed to simplify the communication of information, improve understanding, and enhance the utility of forecasts and warnings. As the next step in Haz Simp, the NWS will be consolidating its cold-related products. These changes are informed by public and partner engagements, surveys, and social science research.
On or about October 1, 2024, the following changes will be made:
Hard Freeze Watches/Warnings will be consolidated into Freeze Watches/Warnings
Wind Chill Watches/Warnings will be consolidated into Extreme Cold Watches/Warnings
Wind Chill Advisory will be replaced with Cold Weather Advisory
These products will be issued as Non-Precipitation Weather Messages (NPWs). The changes aim to simplify messaging by using a single product type for Extreme Cold/Wind Chill and Freeze/Hard Freeze, leading to clearer watch/warning/advisory maps. The intent is to ensure that cold conditions are not overlooked amidst messaging for larger winter precipitation events. For more information, please refer to the Service Change Notice and the Haz Simp Cold One-Pager.
(4) NWS Speaking at the Disaster Expo USA on Sept. 5-6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Disasters Expo USA is dedicated to mitigating the consequences of the most costly disasters, emphasizing preparation, response, and recovery tactics. The event’s programming is set to open discussions surrounding the positive aspects of rebuilding a community after a disaster, building a foundation of resilience, and forming a culture of readiness. On September 5th & 6th, the Los Angeles Convention Center will feature presentations, seminars, and demonstrations along with the chance to discover and test the latest technologies in emergency response and preparedness. There is even a promo code: WRN100 – where you can enjoy everything the show has to offer for free.
Learn more at: https://www.disasterexpocalifornia.com/index.asp
(5) NWS Using Artificial Intelligence to Expand Language Translations
Did you know that the National Weather Service (NWS) has started translating weather forecasts and warnings into non-English languages using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? In October of 2023, NOAA released this press release describing the NWS AI Language Translation Project details and the associated translation website, www.weather.gov/translate. Currently, we are translating into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Samoan. Our Vietnamese AI model has rolled out to the US Gulf Coast this year in time for the beginning of the 2024 Hurricane Season with French becoming available by a few offices in early September 2024. The NWS plans to provide translated content into the following languages by 2028 contingent on funding: Korean (2025), Haitian Creole, Russian, Somali, Arabic, and Portuguese.
The NWS AI Translation Team is seeking assistance in finding and contacting local community leaders and national-level organizations that assist communities with Low English Proficiency to collaborate with to share and promote awareness of these critical translated weather messages, provide feedback on the website, messages, and translations, and obtain interest in any outreach events that can be organized in their area. In addition, assistance in finding bilinguals in any of the languages listed who would be willing to volunteer to translate is also highly desired. Please contact NWS.translate@noaa.gov if you are interested in assisting or have any questions about this project.
(6) The Marine Site for the NWS GIS Viewer is Now Operational
The NWS Office of Dissemination (DIS) has made not one but two Sites on the NWS National GIS Viewer (“the Viewer”) operational this year. The Tropical Site became operational in May 2024, with the Marine Site becoming operational as of August 12, 2024. There are four program Sites operational on “the Viewer,” including the General, Water, Tropical, and Marine Program Sites. Experimental Sites for Fire, Severe, Winter, Space, Climate, and Aviation are being worked on and are at various stages of readiness. One of the new useful additions to “the Viewer” is the Beach Hazards widget, which is outlined in this document and a video tutorial. The Beach Hazards widget provides beach and surf zone information within a Weather Forecast Office’s (WFO) forecast area. This widget is designed for beach-goers to easily view beach/surf zone forecasts and hazard information provided by WFOs. If you have suggestions on datasets or additional functionalities you would like to see in “the Viewer,” or if you have any questions or simply want to know more about “the Viewer”, please reach out to the DIS GIS Viewer Team at nws.gisviewer@noaa.gov.
(7) Citizen Scientists Wanted: Observe Weather and More!
Whether you’re outdoors or in your home, you can be a part of NOAA’s world-class research and monitoring efforts. NOAA offers a wealth of volunteer citizen science opportunities. For example, you can measure how much precipitation falls with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network or transcribe historic ship logs to recover valuable data through the Old Weather project. Or tying into a popular summer movie, you could help people share their “tornado tales” through this new citizen science tool. This information will improve our understanding of how people respond to tornado information and improve weather communications to keep people safe. To learn more about these and other ways to get involved visit our be a citizen scientist page.
(8) National Weather Service Completes Major Upgrades to Weather Radars
https://www.weather.gov/news/241908-weather-radars
"We have improved our radar network by eliminating obsolete items while investing in new technology,” said Terry Clark, Radar Operations Center Director. “The Radar Operations Center is already seeing the positive results of this project in reduced life-cycle cost attributed to fewer maintenance actions. Additionally, radar availability has been maintained at a high level after trending down prior to the upgrades and parts usage has decreased by approximately 50 percent since 2018.”
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