National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. Now is the time to make a plan! This month, we will be sharing information from www.ready.gov on ways to get prepared for an emergency. 

Make A Plan 

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. 

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these 4 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/household communication plan? 

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household. 
As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets, or specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan: 

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

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan 
Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use them as a guide to create your own. 

Emergency Plan for Parents 
Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

  

  
 

Hurricane Matthew Key Points

KEY MESSAGES:

1.  Matthew is likely to produce devastating impacts from storm
surge, extreme winds, and heavy rains in the central and
northwestern Bahamas today, and along portions of the east
coast of Florida tonight.

2.  When a hurricane is forecast to take a track roughly parallel
to a coastline, as Matthew is forecast to do from Florida through
South Carolina, it becomes very difficult to specify impacts at
any one location.  For example, only a small deviation of the track
to the left of the NHC forecast could bring the core of a major
hurricane onshore within the hurricane warning area in Florida and
Georgia.  However, a small deviation to the right could keep the
hurricane-force winds offshore.  Similarly large variations in
impacts are possible in the hurricane watch area in northeast
Georgia and South Carolina.

3.  Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect eastern
North Carolina later this week or this weekend, even if the center
of Matthew remains offshore.

4.  The National Hurricane Center is issuing Potential Storm Surge
Flooding Maps, and Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphics for
Matthew.  It is important to remember that the Potential Storm Surge
Flooding Map does not represent a forecast of expected inundation,
but rather depicts a reasonable worst-case scenario - the amount of
inundation that has a 10 percent chance of being exceeded.  In
addition, because the Flooding Map is based on inputs that extend
out only to about 72 hours, it best represents the flooding
potential in those locations within the watch and warning areas in
Florida and Georgia.

Hurricane Matthew

 

 

Mount Pleasant, SC – The Town of Mount Pleasant is closely monitoring Hurricane Matthew as The National Hurricane Center has included Charleston County within the forecast cone. Equipment has been staged and personnel are ready to respond if needed. Information about the storm will be updated through the police department's social media channels. The Town of Mount Pleasant encourages everyone to follow the accounts listed below for updated information:

Twitter - @mountpleasantpd
Facebook - www.facebook.com/mountpleasantpd
Nextdoor - www.nextdoor.com
Blog - www.mppdnews.blogspot.com

The Mount Pleasant Police Department also sends updated alerts through their smartphone application. It is free to download for iOS and Android Devices:

iOS- https://appsto.re/us/ieL5P.i
Android- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netgalaxystudios.tomppd&hl=en

All Town of Mount Pleasant Offices will be closed October 5, 2016 through October 7, 2016. This includes all municipal court sessions and all recreational activities.

In preparation for the storm, make sure you have updated your emergency plan to include all preparations to protect life and property. Keep your cellular telephones charged and on hand. Having a car charger will be helpful if you lose power to your home. Below are a few checklist items to complete now:

·         Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit.

·         Make sure you have basic supplies to include any prescriptions you may need.

·         Bring loose, lightweight objects inside that could become projectiles in high winds.

·         Review your evacuation plan with your family. Make sure you have a full fuel tank.

·         Monitor TV, radio, and the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s social media accounts for updates and emergency instructions.

If you need emergency assistance during the storm, please call 911. The non-emergency number for Charleston County Consolidated dispatch is 843-743-7200.

Emergency Preparedness

Is your emergency supply kit properly stocked? Take the time to make sure you have the necessary items your family will need.

When to Call 911

 

 

 

Ever wonder whether or not you should call 9-1-1 or the nonemergency line for a problem? You’re not alone. In this video the Mount Pleasant Police Department teams up with the Mount Pleasant Fire Department to give you some quick tips to help you determine which number to call if you need help. For all emergencies dial 9-1-1, and for nonemergency situations, you can call the Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch Center at 843-743-7200. Be Safe!

Emergency Information on Your Smartphone

Did you know that your iPhone's health app has an emergency card that can be filled out and is accessible from your lock screen? This can help law enforcement and medical personnel care for you in the event you are incapacitated.

Hurricane Joaquin

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is closely monitoring Hurricane Joaquin. Make sure you are following us on Twitter (@mountpleasantpd) and have downloaded our free iPhone and Android app for updates! Here is there press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 4:55 p.m.) - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is paying close attention to Hurricane Joaquin, and as a result of the storm’s projected movement, key agencies in South Carolina government have been notified to be ready to respond if the need arises.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. We are preparing for the possibility that this storm could affect South Carolina, we’re asking residents to do the same,” SCEMD Director Kim Stenson said.

People in potentially vulnerable areas should review their plans and consider actions to take if the storm threatens the state:

· Be sure your emergency supplies kit has enough bottled water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three to seven days. Include a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, toiletries, change of clothes, blankets or sleeping bag, rain gear and appropriate footwear. Also include copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies.

· Plan for your pets. Gather supplies for your pet and put them in an easily-accessible container.

· Determine if you are in a flood plain or flood-prone area.

· Know evacuation routes for your area. Pay attention to emergency warnings and evacuate if instructed to do so. Visitwww.scemd.org/KnowYourZone for more information.

· Stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center (NHC), as well as state and local emergency management officials.

· Follow trusted and verified social media feeds for information, such as @SCEMD and @NHC_Atlantic.

A copy of the 2015 S.C. Hurricane Guide is available at all state welcome centers along South Carolina interstates, Walgreen’s stores and for download on SCEMD’s website at scemd.org.

Disaster Supply Kit

Have you prepared a disaster supply kit yet? Ready.gov has this detailed list of supplies you should include:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Manual can opener for food

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

To learn more visit http://www.ready.gov/kit

South Carolina Emergency Management Division Press Release

The SCEMD just put out this press release regarding Subtropical Storm Ana:

SCEMD Monitors Subtropical Storm Ana

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Friday, May 8, 2015, 11:15 a.m.) – The first named storm of 2015 has formed and will affect South Carolina this weekend.  The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for portions of the South Carolina coast. Forecasters expect Subtropical Storm Ana to produce heavy rain, gusty wind and rough surf. The S.C. Emergency Management Division, county emergency managers and state agencies are monitoring the latest forecasts and planning as necessary. 

 

“We were fortunate to be able to discuss the storm with the Director of the National Hurricane Center in person during his Hurricane Hunter stop at Myrtle Beach on Wednesday,” SCEMD Director Kim Stenson said, “We’ve also met with the county emergency managers and the state agencies who are a part of our Hurricane Task Force. We’re prepared to respond to any requests for state assistance.”

 

SCEMD will increase its state of operational readiness to Condition 4 at noon today. OpCon4 is the second lowest of five operational conditions. Personnel representing key state response agencies were notified to review plans and procedures and are on call if needed.

 

SCEMD urges everyone to review emergency plans and use caution as conditions warrant:

·         Monitor local media and NOAA Weather Radio for the most current weather conditions.

·         Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and local emergency officials.

·         Know the meaning of and obey warnings represented by colored beach flags.

·         Be aware of potential flash flooding. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move to higher ground. Do not wait to be told to move.

·         If time allows, prepare your home for a flood by moving essential items to an upper floor, bring in outdoor furniture, disconnect electrical appliances and be prepared to turn off the gas, electricity and water.

·         Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

·         Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

 

Resources:

·         Visit www.scemd.org for updates and preparation information.

·         All SCEMD social feeds are here: www.tinyurl.com/SocialSCEMD.

·         Real-time travel information from SCDOT: http://www.scdot.org/getting/travelAdvisories.aspx.

·         The National Hurricane Center: www.hurricanes.gov.

 

The 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins June 1 and lasts until November 30.