Disaster Preparedness

The EOC is located at 3085 Saint Lawrence Street in the city's corporation yard.

Yes. The Emergency Manager is available to provide presentations on many topics at no charge to the group or organization. Presentations include earthquake preparedness, Africanized honey bees, floods, and terrorism.

Yes. The City is required by state and federal regulation to have a response and recovery plan. This plan covers everything from earthquakes and plane crashes to fires and flooding. This plan is maintained by the Emergency Manager and is continuously updated. A major update of the plan is done every five years. The newly revised plan is available to view at Riverside Public Library, Reference Section.

Disaster preparedness is the means of preparing for a disaster before it happens. Some ways of preparing would be storage of food, water, and medicine in the event you had to be on your own for three days, planning escape routes, and setting up out of area contacts. These are just a few of the things you can do.

Riverside is most vulnerable to floods. However, we can have earthquakes, draughts, fires, winds, Africanized honey bees, fire ants and situations such as civil unrest, terrorism and energy shortages.

The EOC has two full time paid staff and two volunteers. The EOC Manager receives extensive training through State and Federal classes. The EOC Manager is required to maintain certification for the position and must attend disaster related classes throughout the year.

EOC staff is responsible for maintaining the readiness of the City to all emergencies. Plans, presentations and training are done on a continuous basis. The EOC plans yearly exercises for the hospitals, fire, police and other city staff.

Bomb and fallout shelters were the direct result of a fear of nuclear war in the 1950's and 60's. With the decline of the ?Cold War? the need for these shelters has disappeared. The City has developed extensive emergency plans and resources to ensure a coordinated response to any disaster, including a terrorist event. The best thing to do is listen to the radio or television for any information such as the location of any shelter - if established, or the need to 'shelter-in-place?.

Shelter-in-place is intended to keep you safe while remaining indoors. For other natural disaster you may be directed by local officials to go to a community shelter for safety purposes. However, the intent of a 'shelter-in-place? means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows and taking refuge there.

An above ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed. Large storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without exterior windows work well. Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room. There is no need to seal off your entire home or office with duct tape and plastic sheeting.

It is important to remember that instructions to 'shelter-in-place? mean shelter for a few hours, not days or weeks. There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate. Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe.

Biological and radiological agents, which are airborne, are vapors, not gasses ? so there's no need for a gas mask. Vapors immediately begin to dissipate once they are released. When you leave an area, the risk of being affected by a vapor diminishes. Gas masks were developed for soldiers who have to remain in a specific area - that's the big difference. You can leave an area and always leave the risk. Chemical gasses need to be delivered in large quantities in order to kill or cause injuries. If you smell a vapor or gas, remember to stay calm. If you panic you have a tendency to breathe faster and you will breathe more of the biological, radiological or chemical agent. Listen to local radio and television broadcasts for information if an airborne attack occurs.

It makes good sense to store food, water and medical supplies as well as duct tape and plastic sheeting. Natural disasters can occur at any time, and the City encourages you to do all you can to be prepared for all types of hazards. Why not be ready?

The City is involved in a multi-jurisdictional group whose responsibilities are to develop terrorism emergency response plans and training. The Police Department continually assesses threats to determine if they are credible. The City has been very pro-active in its terrorist planning.