2005 News

September 12, 2005
Bucks County Emergency Planning Is Ongoing Process
Officials Encourage Residents To Prepare For Disasters

Bucks County officials say they are better prepared to deal with emergencies, although planning and training remains an ongoing process. In the meantime, county residents are being advised to prepare for unexpected emergencies by creating individual and family emergency plans.

In reflecting on the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin said, "Although we cannot control unexpected attacks or natural disasters, being prepared means we can protect ourselves and our families.

"Pennsylvania and Bucks County are doing what needs to be done; now it is urgent that our citizens become more involved. Most of all, everyone should heed the warnings of local and county emergency responders and follow their lead," Martin said.

The county Emergency Management Agency, under the direction of John Dougherty, has dramatically stepped up preparation and training since 9-11, but officials cautioned there is more work to do.

Millions of dollars have been spent in the county and region to train and equip first responders to deal with a variety of emergency situations since 9-11. Dougherty also heads up the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Force, a planning work group that has been in operation since 1999 preparing for the possible effects of Y2K.

A state-of-the-art mobile command center, individual protection gear, chemical decontamination units, highly specialized equipment and computerized programs that allow 911 dispatchers to follow emergency patterns, are among the innovations added to the county EMA program.

The county also has an effective early warning system, the Community Alert Network (CAN) that has been used in previous floods along the Neshaminy Creek and Delaware River. The CAN early warnings come in the form of rapid phone calls to individual homes on the network.

While the county emergency management plan continues to develop, Bucks County families and individuals are urged to prepare an emergency kit and create an emergency contact list. Citizens also are advised to know the exits from neighborhoods and homes. Have on hand, an easy-to-carry container with emergency supplies, including prescription drugs, and a list of emergency contacts - preferably long distance, since those carriers usually are up and running faster than local phone service providers.

As the county commissioners last week issued their declaration of National Preparedness Month in Bucks County, David M. Sanko, the county's chief operating officer, said, "It continues to be important to educate families on how best to prepare for an emergency situation.

"All emergency preparedness begins locally, so it is imperative that all communities and individuals have a plan, regardless of the type of emergency," Sanko added.

More information is available on the following websites: www.pema.state.pa.us or www.dsf.health.state.pa.us - for a copy of the Pennsylvania Emergency preparedness Guide or www.ready.gov - for a review of preparedness in the U.S. and American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.