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Emergency Management; what to do in an emergency
Emergency Management; what to do in an emergency
By Robert P. Dean, Director of Client Services
Tom Grizey, Director of Emergency Management for the City of Pittsfield and the Town of Richmond, recently appeared on Berkshire Senior TV to discuss some of the things the community can do to be safe in the event of an environmental emergency such as a tornado, a hurricane, or a poisonous gas leak. A portion of a video entitled "Safety in Place" was aired at the end of the show. This program is recommended viewing for anyone who would like to know what to do when there is an environmental emergency.
Among the things one should do to be "safe in place" are: to find shelter and stay there; close all doors and windows; stay in a center room (which is safer than an outside room because there are less windows or other outside openings); keep telephone lines free unless it is an emergency call and then be brief; listen to the Emergency Broadcast System on local radio and follow its instructions; and, keep children at school if the emergency occurs during the school day, because they are safer there. Grizey discussed the importance of staying safe in place, by staying inside and not leaving your home or safe place to "greet" a poisonous gas leak or other environmental intruder; how to use plastic and tape to seal off a room in your home from contaminated air so that you will be able to breath safely until a poisonous gas leaves the area.
Tom explained that leaving home during an environmental emergency to pick up children from school is one of the worst things that you can do because you are taking your children outside to "greet" the poisonous gas or other threat. It is far better, Grizey advised, to let children remain safe at school, than to go out during an environmental emergency.
Grizey also talked about some things to remember when dialing 911 in an emergency. Locally, it will take help longer to arrive if you use a cell phone to call 911 instead of a traditional hard wired telephone. This is because local cell phone calls are routed through New Hampshire, while local hard wired calls are routed directly to a local 911 responder. The local responders are much more familiar with local streets and landmarks than the New Hampshire cell phone responder and crucial time may be lost while you try to explain where you are. However, don’t waste valuable time looking for a hard wired phone if you don’t know where one is located. In this situation, use your cell phone but be aware that help will not arrive as quickly. Grizey also advised that you do not need change or a phone card to dial 911 from a pay phone because the call is free when you are dialing 911; and typically, you can dial 911 from a traditional hard wired telephone even if it has been "disconnected."
If you missed Tom Grizey on Berkshire Senior TV or if you would like to see the video "Safety in Place" in its entirety, perhaps your local access television station would show either of these programs at your request. The episode of Berkshire Senior TV in which Grizey appeared is entitled "Emergency Management." A complete listing of Berkshire Senior TV programming for November is on page - of this edition. If you would like additional information about emergency management or the Local Emergency Planning Committee, check out their web site at http://www.pittsfieldma.org/.