City of Annapolis 

Mayor Gavin Buckley

160 Duke of Gloucester St

Annapolis, MD 21401

 

 

Office of Emergency Management

Director Kevin J. Simmons

199 Taylor Ave

Annapolis, MD 21401

NEWS RELEASE 

 

 

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 3, 2019

 

Media Contact: Hannah Thomas

 

                        (410) 216-9167

 

 

 

September is National Preparedness Month 

 

The City of Annapolis Asks Residents to Take Action Now to Prepare
 for Emergencies and Natural Disasters

 

Annapolis, MD (9-3-19) September is National Preparedness Month. National Preparedness Month provides an opportunity to remind us that we all must prepare ourselves and our families now and throughout the year. This year, National Preparedness Month will focus on planning, with an overarching theme: Prepared, Not Scared.  Mayor Gavin Buckley and the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management (OEM) want to make sure you are prepared for any disaster. "It is our goal to keep all residents and visitors to our City safe in the event of a disaster or severe weather event," said Mayor Buckley. "Preparation is the key to minimizing the risk these events pose. Please use this time to get your family prepared and check in on vulnerable neighbors to make sure they have what they need."

 

“Be sure to prepare your family for a variety of disasters,” said Kevin J. Simmons, Director of the Office of Emergency Management. “A core emergency kit goes a long way, and remember to add seasonal items to protect against extreme heat, cold, and other events that can threaten health and property.”

 

The Office of Emergency Management recommends the following four steps to plan and prepare well in advance of a disaster.

 

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these four questions with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.

• How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
• What is my shelter plan?
• What is my evacuation route?
• What is my family communication plan?

 

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household.

• Different ages of members within your household.
• Responsibilities for assisting others.
• Dietary needs.
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment.
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment.
• Cultural and religious considerations.
• Pets or service animals.
• Households with school-aged children.
  

 

Step 3: Complete a family emergency plan

• There are a number of family emergency plans readily available online.
• There are a number of plan templates at https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

 

Step 4: Practice the plan with your family/household

• Once you have developed a plan for your family, test your plan to make sure what you write down works. Testing your plan allows you to see what works well and what can be changed before a real emergency.

 

Residents with functional needs and who might need assistance during a disaster should contact OEM to be registered on our special assistance roster. This will allow OEM the ability to check on your welfare before, during and after an emergency event.

 

To register or to get additional information regarding emergency preparedness or assistance with information and notification services, call OEM at 410-216-9167.

 

Preparedness Month Activities  

 

In addition to planning and preparing using the 4 steps, OEM is encouraging residents to attend and participate in some of the events that will be held in our community this month:

  

Poster Contest 

 

OEM is collaborating with five local schools and conducting its Annual Poster Contest, which aims to work with local elementary schoolchildren to educate them about preparedness. As part of the poster contest, the students illustrate how their families prepare for different kinds of severe weather.

 

Back-to-School Walk Along – September 3rd

 

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will join Delegate Shaneka Henson for a Back-To-School Walk Along on Tuesday, September 3^rd. This Walk Along will begin at the corner of President and Madison Street and is aimed to encourage Eastport Elementary on their first day of school.

Anne Arundel County Emergency Preparedness Fair – September 21^st 

 

The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management will also be participating in the Anne Arundel County Emergency Preparedness Fair at the Marley Station Mall on September 21^st from 10:00 AM to 2: 00 PM. This is a free, fun, and family-friendly way to BE PREPARED! Over 45 different hands-on displays and live demonstrations from County, State, Federal, and volunteer public service organizations will be on hand. Fire trucks, police cars, a police helicopter, public works equipment, drone demonstrations, canine demonstrations, and much more!

 

 

 

Defense Intelligence Agency National Preparedness Day – September 26^th 

 

The Office of Emergency Management will be traveling to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling to interact with Annapolitans who work for the Defense Intelligence Agency. This event is aimed at helping Emergency Management Agencies begin a conversation with employees about how they can be better prepared.

  

Are You and Your Family Connected?

 

The City of Annapolis encourages Annapolitans to stay informed with the latest information. The City of Annapolis offers the following tools for citizens to stay prepared:

• Alert Annapolis – This system allows the City to send out automated telephone messages, text messages, or emails quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency. To sign up for Alert Annapolis, please go to the following site http://alertannapolis.civicready.com/.
  
• Prepare Me Annapolis Mobile App – This free app from the Office of Emergency Management provides information for Annapolitans to be prepared. The app delivers push notifications that include important information regarding City functions and other important notices. Prepare Me Annapolis is available, free of charge, on both the Apple Store and on Google Play.
  
• Annapolis Police Mobile App - This free app is managed by the City of Annapolis Police Department. The app provides real-time alert notifications pushed to the user’s smartphone, as well as immediate access to the latest police department news, crime maps, and social media accounts. Annapolis Police Mobile App is available, free of charge, on both the Apple Store and on Google Play.

 

For more information on being prepared, and developing a plan for your family, check out this information found at www.annapolis.gov/OEM, the MEMA website at mema.maryland.gov, and the National Preparedness month website at www.ready.gov/september.

 

 

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