"GEM" proposes a voice/siren system

April 1, 2009 — With over forty people in attendance Friday at the Grayson Conference Center, the City’s Emergency Management personnel opened the meeting allowing residents and businesses to observe the working operations of first responders. With lessons learned and a positive outlook on the newly created program within Grayson, Roger Dunfee, City EM Director, applauded the first responders and wants to continue the proactive stand for the city’s emergency incidents.

At the meeting, Dunfee introduced Tammy and Tim Nischan, who will be Transportation Coordinators for the City of Grayson. They will be assisting individuals who need to be evacuated during an emergency incident. Sherman Berry, former City of Grayson councilman, was introduced as the Logistics and Resource Planning Coordinator, who will provide assistance in locating resources needed during an incident, whether it would be water, equipment, or manpower.

Joanne Dunfee, Deputy Director, provided notebooks of emergency floor plans to the Grayson Fire and Police Departments. The floor plans of large facilities within the city will aid first responders during an incident. Notebooks on transportation and evacuation information were presented to Lakeway Learning, Pathways, Northeast Headstart, Carter Christian Academy, and Friendship/Chapel House. Churches within the area have been designated as shelters with the First Church of Christ being the primary facility.

Nancy Simmons, Pathways Crisis Coordinator, spoke of K Helps, a state based system that registers medical professionals interested in volunteering to offer assistance during public health emergencies or disasters. Ms. Simmons further discussed the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board, which provides assessments, crisis intervention, service collaboration, and system development following disasters.

Lloyd Miller of the Little Sandy Health District discussed the role of Bridgett Howard, who will reintroduce the Medical Corp Reserve. This is a team of local volunteer medical and medical health professionals who will contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community needs. Dr. Marty Thomas said that officials of King’s Daughters Outreach Center will team with members of the Our Lady of Bellefonte’s staff to coordinate the KCU volunteer nursing students to assist medical personnel during an incident.

Giving a power point presentation on a community communication system for the City of Grayson, was Don Roney of the Whelen Engineering Company out of Tennessee. Having been contacted by EM several months ago, the Dunfee’s have been pursuing the purchase of a voice/siren system. With the power outages from the ice storm and the potential for a tornado or a shelter-in-place from a chemical spill, the residents and public would be informed through a siren blast of three minutes followed by a message as to how to react. Four to five sirens would be placed throughout the city.

Ohio State and Eastern Kentucky University; the Ashland Marathon Refinery; and the cities of Columbus, Atlanta, and Selma, Alabama have found this system to be an outstanding way of informing citizens during an emergency. Dennis Bass, Greenup County EM Director spoke highly of the system, which is used in parts of his county. As Mr. Roney said, “no one thing is the answer during an emergency. Everything must work together to lessen the dangers of an emergency. People still have to rely on their radios and television.” Dunfee followed by saying “it is important for residents to take responsibility by preparing for emergencies. Residents within the community should have battery powered radios, water, and food stored.”

Questions about the reliability and funding of the system followed the presentation. Grants, contributions, and a buy/lease program will be researched on the purchasing of a system for the city. Another option posed is that Grayson could apply for a grant on being a “storm ready city”. Technical questions were posed by Kendall Steele of the Grayson Fire Department and Paul Thomas, who represented the Norton-Branch Fire Department.

Dunfee thanked those who attended the two hour meeting and asked those who had further questions to stay following the closing. The next DES meeting will be in June or July. For more information on Grayson’s Emergency Management or the voice/siren system, you may call 474-6814.

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