City of Atascadero staff members participate in disaster preparedness training
Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard.
News from the city
By Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard
–Thanks to a very generous grant received from Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), 32 key staff members from the City of Atascadero were able to participate in an Emergency Management Institute (EMI) training last month in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The training was an intense week of classroom and practical exercises dealing with disasters that might face Atascadero.
In addition to city staff members and Mayor Pro Tem Heather Moreno, our group included an additional 39 team members composed of a diverse cross section from our local partner agencies which included the cities of Paso Robles, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo; the Templeton Community Services District; Atascadero State Hospital, Chamber of Commerce, Atascadero Unified School District, Atascadero Mutual Water Company, PG&E, Southern Pacific Railroad, CalFire, the Red Cross, San Luis Obispo County Schools and from numerous SLO County departments including the Office of Emergency Services, Public Health/Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Medical Services, the Sheriff’s Department, Environment Health and more. The FEMA representatives conducting the training credited Atascadero with having one of the most diverse as well as most cohesive groups they had ever seen.
The exercises and training were practical and beneficial because representatives from all of the agencies that could typically be involved in a local disaster were in the same room at the same time, all working and training together. The intense training situation simulated a real emergency. All of the participants were thoroughly engaged and handled the simulation as if it were really happening. In addition, we were provided with a forum for networking with a variety of agencies outside of the City and for uncovering opportunities to continue this outreach and connection as we all return to our individual communities and workplaces. We sincerely appreciate the public and private organizations that contributed employee time to the training. We are grateful that our community has such tremendous business partners.
After attending the training, it was again very apparent that in a major disaster, we really are all in this together. We strongly encourage everyone in the community to develop their own emergency plan. Visit www.Ready.gov for emergency preparedness tips, lists, brochures and information. Collect and assemble your disaster supply kit; learn ahead of time where to seek shelter from all types of hazards and what to do for specific hazards; identify evacuation routes and practice actually implementing your plan. In a real emergency there may not be access to food, water or electricity for several days, so be prepared by having at least a three-day supply of water and food on hand along with prescriptions and medical supplies, first aid kit, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, emergency blanket, important documents and personal care items. And it’s that time of year again – don’t forget to check your smoke alarms! Change the batteries and be sure to replace any smoke alarm that’s 10 years or older.
As always, if you have any questions about this or any other topic regarding the city, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
