Chester County Emergency Management

It is the policy of Chester County to be prepared for any emergency or disaster.

• Emergency response personnel, equipment, and facilities will be maintained in a state of readiness to save lives, prevent or minimize damage to property, and provide assistance to all people who are threatened by an emergency or who become victims of any disaster.
• Emergency operations will be coordinated to the maximum extent with municipal and county agencies, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and other state agencies, the federal government, and private agencies of every type.
• The level and duration of any state commitment of resources shall be determined by the Governor.

The Chester County Hazards Mitigation Task Force was established with the goal of increasing the community's preparedness for future disasters.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan details the planning undertaken to proactively prepare for and mitigate the effects of potential future events.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

What to Listen For:

• TORNADO WATCH: Tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms.
• TORNADO WARNING: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. If a tornado warning is issued for your area and the sky becomes threatening, move to your pre-designated place of safety.
• SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH: Severe thunderstorms are possible in your area.
• SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING: Severe thunderstorms are occurring.

What to look for:

• Dark, often greenish sky
• Wall cloud
• Large hail
• Loud roar; similar to a freight train

• #1: Hazards that could affect Chester County

  Each county in the state maintains a "HAZARDS VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS." This analysis contains a list of possible hazards that could potentially affect our area. Each listed hazard is evaluated to provide a numerical scale to evaluate and rank the probability of the hazard of occurring.

  In Chester County, the top five potential hazards are ranked as follows: (#1 = Highest)
  #1 Transportation accidents involving hazardous materials (includes road and rail)
  #2 Severe winter storm
  #3 Hazardous material accidents at fixed sites
  #4 Tornado
  #5 Structure fire

• #2: Emergency Supplies for the Home

  One part of being prepared is to have certain supplies available in your home. The supplies may be needed if utilities are lost, which may or may not involve damage to the home, or in the event evacuation is required.

  It is normally recommended to keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three (3) days. The supplies should be kept in sturdy easy-to-carry containers. (Backpack, duffle bags or plastic containers.)

  A Disaster Supplies Kit Should Include:

  • A 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day).
  • Food that won't spoil.
  • One change of clothing and footwear per person.
  • One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
  • A first-aid kit, including prescription medicines.
  • Emergency tools to include a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
  • An extra set of car keys.
  • A credit card or cash.
  • Sanitation supplies.
  • Extra pair of glasses or eyewear.
  • Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.

  Note: It is a good idea to keep important documents in a waterproof container.

• #3: Family/Home Emergency Plan

  Another step in preparedness is to meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disasters. Discuss the dangers involved with various hazards. Plan how to share responsibilities and work together as a team.

  The following is a list of considerations for your planning:

  1. Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
  2. Pick two places to meet.
  1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire
  2. Outside your neighborhood in the event you can't return home. Everyone must know the address and telephone number.
  3. Ask an out-of-state friend or family member to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's telephone number.
  4. Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.
  5. Locate a "safe place" for tornado threat. Designated shelter, such as a basement or interior room or hallway on the lowest floor. Mobile homes, even if tied down, normally offer little protection from tornadoes. They should be abandoned for a safer location, as a nearby shelter, basement, ditch or depression should be sought. Consider that ditches or depressions maybe flooded and adequate drainage may need to be provided ahead of time.
  6. Plan two (2) ways out (escape route) of each room of your home in case of fire or similar emergency. Normal entrance doors and properly sized windows are commonly used. If the window in a room is too small, consider installation of larger window or exterior door to the outside. Doors directly to the outside are usually good for in ambulatory (someone bedridden) or disabled persons.
  7. Ensure that properly installed smoke detectors are on each level of your home.
  8. Ensure that properly installed carbon monoxide detectors are in the home. (Especially if fuel-burning heaters or cook stoves are used).

  The SCEPD has also provided the following safety tips, applicable to various emergencies including the increased threat of terrorism.

  At home:

  1. Remain calm; be aware of your surroundings and report highly unusual activities to local authorities.
  2. Pre-designate a phone number and rally point for family members to use.
  3. Have emergency services and law enforcement phone numbers close at hand. (911)
  4. Secure your property, including your vehicles.
  5. Observe instructions of law enforcement and emergency services personnel.
  6. Stay informed of what's going on in your community.
  7. Don't make dramatic lifestyle changes.
  8. Don't overreact to normal, everyday occurrences.

  At work:

  1. Be alert and aware of your surrounding areas. Once in your office, notice your
     immediate surroundings and be aware of heavy or breakable objects that could move, fall or break.
  2. Learn where emergency/fire exits and staircases are located.
  3. Learn the location of building fire extinguishers and how they operate.
  4. Review your company or building emergency evacuation procedures.
  5. Think ahead about how to evacuate public congested areas.

  While traveling:

  1. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior.
  2. Don't accept packages from strangers.
  3. Don't leave luggage unattended.

• #4: Shelter-In-Place (In-Place Protection)

  During some hazardous material releases, there will not be enough time to evacuate. Airborne toxicants can be released and move downwind so rapidly that it would be no time or not safe to evacuate.

  If you are told to "Stay indoors" or Shelter-In-Place”:

  1. Go indoors of your home or building (do not stay in an automobile).
  2. Stay indoors until you are told it is safe to go out.
  3. Close all windows and doors.
  4. Turn off fans, air conditioners, heat system and forced air equipment that brings air from the outside.
  5. Gather radio, flashlight, food, water, medicines, duct tape, etc. (Emergency supply kit)
  6. Go to an interior room, if possible, and try to seal all cracks and openings around windows, doors, and other openings with duct or masking tape, towels or plastic sheets to seal out air leaks for better protection.
  7. Stay still and quiet to minimize air use.
  8. Do not call 911 for information, as this would tie up lines needed for emergency calls. Listen to local radio or TV station for information.
  9. Wait for "All Clear" to be issued from emergency workers. Note: Do not use basements if toxic gases are heavier than air. You would be given this information when notified. An airborne cloud will frequently move past quickly.

• #5: Evacuations

  Evacuation of people from certain areas to prevent injury or death is sometimes an appropriate protective action. These areas may include those directly affected and those areas that may be potentially affected during the incident. (e.g., through wind shift, a change in site conditions).

  To safely evacuate an area, a significant amount of lead-time may be required. Time is a critical factor between "Shelter in place" and "Evacuation".

  If evacuation is determined to be the safest action, the following maybe expected for the general public:

  1. A message will be given:
  1. Describing area to evacuate.
  2. What shelter(s) are available.
  3. What routes to use to clear the area and to shelter.
  4. Other important information concerning the evacuation.
  2. Emergency official may go door to door in some cases for notification.
  3. Follow directions given.
  4. Take emergency supply kit with you.
  5. If you go to a friend or relatives’ home, instead of shelter, ensure other family members have a "family contact" number away from the evacuated area for messages of where you are.
  6. Law Enforcement and other emergency workers will secure access to evacuated areas.
  7. Transportation will be arranged for those without. Normally a person can ride with a neighbor, if needed.
  8. Animal control will assist as much as possible with sheltering of pets.

  Do not re-enter until "All Clear" is given.

• #6: Emergency Notification Systems

  Two common questions among citizens are, “How will I know there is an emergency around my home?” and “How will I get information of what to do?”

  Having and knowing about “warning systems” answers these questions. A warning system consists of two parts - a signal and a message. We will look at these two parts as they currently relate to Chester County.

  Emergency Alert System (EAS) (formerly: Emergency Broadcast System)
  EAS exists to furnish instructions to the public in the event of a national, regional, or local crisis. Radio and television stations that are designated as EBS stations transmit alert tones and emergency information to the general public. A person would need to be listening or watching an EBS station to know that an alert has occurred. There are EBS radio monitors that may be purchased which allow the radio to remain muted until the tone is received.

  NOAA Weather Radio
  This type of tone-alert radio is configured to monitor one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) continuous broadcast radio station. It may be used to listen to the local weather broadcast station, which is part of the NOAA system, or it can be set to activate only when the station transmits a special weather alert tone. Some NOAA weather radios can be purchased to activate when there is a county or area specific tone transmitted or a regional tone is transmitted. The system is primarily used for weather hazard communications. The NOAA weather radio can be purchased from most retailers that handle electronic products. Ensure that it is properly listed by an approved testing agency, such as UL, and that the device will receive in your area.

  Residential Route Alerting
  Motor vehicles equipped with public address (PA) systems travel predestined routes to notify people of the emergency, The message may give instructions or advise to tune to an EBS station for the message.

  Door-to-Door Alerting
  Emergency personnel go to each home, alerting residents of the emergency and giving instructions.

  Vehicle Sirens
  Motor vehicles equipped with sirens travel predestined routes. Similar to route alerting, the citizens will need to tune to an EBS station for the message.

  Hearing Impaired
  A modified weather alert radio for the deaf can be purchased that activates a pillow vibrator at the onset of a weather warning. The system can alert the deaf during night hours to disasters. In addition, Tone Deaf Devices (TDD) can be purchased and coded for weather information. People with hearing difficulties should contact their local telephone company and electronic stores specializing in communications equipment to discuss their specific needs. Please note that special equipment is also available for smoke detection in the home.

• #7: Family/Home Emergency Checklist

  The following checklist will assist you to verify your preparedness:

  1. Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.
  2. Teach children how and when to call 911 for emergency help.
  3. Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
  4. Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
  5. Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher and where it is kept.
  6. Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
  7. Conduct a home hazard hunt.
  8. Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
  9. Take a recognized First Aid and CPR class, such as Red Cross.
  10. Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
  11. Find the safest spots in your home for each type of disaster.

  Once your plan is developed it is good to practice and maintain it:

  1. Quiz your kids at least every six months so they remember what to do.
  2. Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
  3. Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
  4. Test and recharge fire extinguishers according to manufacturer's instructions.
  5. Test smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

  Information provided is only a summary. For further information you may contact Chester County Emergency Management at 803-377-4632 or visit FEMA'S website (fema.gov)

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  National Weather Service

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  National Hurricane Center

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  Federal Emergency Management Agency

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  Department of Homeland Security

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  Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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  U.S. Geological Survey

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