This document discusses the importance of personal and community preparedness for emergencies. It recommends having a 72-hour emergency kit, making plans for communication and safety with family and neighbors, and understanding the various emergency warning systems available in Boulder County such as sirens, radio, TV, phone lines and NOAA weather radios. Being prepared at individual, neighborhood and community levels can help reduce risks and improve safety during natural disasters, technological incidents or other emergencies.

1. Personal / Family /Personal / Family /
Neighborhood / WorkplaceNeighborhood / Workplace
PreparednessPreparedness

2. WHY DO YOU NEED TO BEWHY DO YOU NEED TO BE
PREPAREDPREPARED
Our Community is potentially at risk for large scale
emergencies
Natural
Technological
Human-made
There are steps that YOU can take now that will reduce the
impact of these hazards
Before (Planning and Preparedness)
During (Response)
Recovery

3. Preparedness OverviewPreparedness Overview
• Disaster & Emergency Preparedness
• Personal and Family Preparedness
– Planning & 72-Hour Kits
• Neighborhood & Community
Preparedness
• Boulder County’s Warning Systems

4. Preparing for an EmergencyPreparing for an Emergency
Individuals should prepare by:
• Recognizing potential disaster events and
understanding risk.
• Identifying potential hazards in their
homes and workplaces.
• Reducing the hazards, where possible.
• Developing a 72-Hour Kit (disaster supply
kit).

5. Responding to an emergencyResponding to an emergency
Individuals can respond by:
• Following the pre-plan in
the event of an
emergency.
• Following emergency
management instructions
• Locating and turning off
utilities, if safe.

6. Effects of an EmergencyEffects of an Emergency
on the Communityon the Community
Lack of … or disruption
to:
• Communications
• Food, water
• Information
• Transportation
• Power
• Community Services

7. Personal SafetyPersonal Safety
Personal safety measures vary depending
on:
• The type of event.
• The amount of warning available.
• Location during the event (i.e., inside,
outside, driving).

8. ARE YOU READY FOR AARE YOU READY FOR A
DISASTER?DISASTER?
• Planning
• Event Preparation
• Follow Through

9. Home / Workplace PreparednessHome / Workplace Preparedness
• Structural and nonstructural hazard
mitigation
• Individual preparedness:
– Develop an emergency plan
– Assemble disaster supplies
– Identify a safe location

10. • Understand the risk.
• Prepare your home.
• Assemble a 72-Hour Kit.
• Identify an alternate heat source.
• Fill your car’s gas tank.
• Make sure all family members know your
family emergency plan.
• Dress appropriately
• Pay attention to warnings.
Winter Storm PreparednessWinter Storm Preparedness

11. If stranded in your car . . .If stranded in your car . . .
• Stay in your car – unless help is visible.
• Catch another driver’s attention.
• Occasionally run your engine – 10 minutes
every hour.
• Keep the exhaust clear
• Do minor exercises.

12. Power OutagesPower Outages

13. Flood PreparationsFlood Preparations
• Know the flood risk for the area.
• Have a battery-powered radio to obtain
current information.
• Obtain flood insurance.
• Prepare a flood evacuation plan.
• Keep documents in a water-proof box.
• Have 72-Hour Kit assembled.

14. Protecting Property FromProtecting Property From
FloodingFlooding
• Elevate furnace, water heater, and electric
panel.
• Move furniture and other items to a higher
level.
• If building a new home, raise the home
above flood level.

15. Neighborhood PreparednessNeighborhood Preparedness
PlanPlan
• Contact Numbers / Phone Trees
• Identify Special Needs Population
• Help Neighbors Can Provide
• Children’s Schools and Childcare
• Animals That Need Care
• Phone Tree and Buddy System
• Unique Considerations for Neighborhood

16. WARNING SYSTEMS INWARNING SYSTEMS IN
BOULDER COUNTYBOULDER COUNTY

17. Emergency Warning SystemEmergency Warning System
• Understand the strength and limitations of
all the systems available to you.
• None of our systems are fail proof.
– Activation Time
– Reliance on Technology
– Human Error
• Take advantage of available systems.

18. Radio and TVRadio and TV
Types of messages that may be received:
• Local, State & Federal Emergencies – with immediate danger to
life or property
• Severe Weather – with immediate danger to life or property
• General News
Pros:
• Wide-area dissemination
• No specialized equipment required
• Special Needs Options Compliant
Cons:
• Must be tuned to an appropriate channel
• Does not work with Satellite TV receivers if local stations are not
received
• Does not work with Satellite Radio receivers
• Major impact to normal programming

19. Radio and TVRadio and TV
The Emergency Alert SystemThe Emergency Alert System
"This is a test of the Emergency Alert System --
this is only a test...."
Boulder KBCO (AM) 1190
Boulder KBVI (AM) 1490
Boulder KGNU (FM) 88.5
Boulder KRKS (FM) 94.7
Boulder KBCO (FM) 97.3
Longmont KLMO (AM) 1060
Longmont KCDC (FM) 90.7
Longmont KCKK (FM) 104.3
Denver area television
stations

20. Cable TV and City AccessCable TV and City Access
Types of messages that may be received:
• Severe Weather – posing immediate danger to life or property
• Local Emergencies – posing immediate danger to life or property
Pros:
• City-wide dissemination
Cons:
• Must be a cable TV subscriber
• Must be watching cable TV
• City of Boulder access system – must be in the City of Boulder
and tuned to cable channel 8
Cities that use this delivery method:
• Voice Over-Ride Cable: Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette
• City of Boulder Access System – City of Boulder on cable channel
8

21. Home and Business Phone LinesHome and Business Phone Lines
Types of messages that may be received:
• Local emergencies – Fire/Law or other emergency
• Evacuation Notification
• Shelter In Place Notification
Pros:
• Area of notification and message can be defined.
• Effective for an area of limited size - sends out 100’s of calls
per minute.
Cons:
• Not setup to work with cell phones, pagers or voice-over-
internet systems.
• Message delivery is subject to phone being answered or
answering machine/system.
• Can take hours to send messages to large number of calls.
• Reliant on phone system working.

22. Home and Business Phone LinesHome and Business Phone Lines
What occurs when an emergency message is
sent to your phone:
• Your phone will ring and a pre-recorded
message will be on your phone.
• Listen to the entire message and follow the
directions on the message.
• If you only have a cell phone or VoIP you will
not receive call back notification.

23. E-mail / Internet – Local SourceE-mail / Internet – Local Source
Types of Warning:
• Local Emergency and Preparedness Information
Pros:
• Current information regarding a local event
• Published and Sent Locally
• Free
Cons:
• Not set up to provide immediate evacuation information
• Computers being on in severe weather is not recommended
• Reliant on an internet connection
Boulder Emergency Management (
www.ci.boulder.co.us/oem/statuspage.htm)
Boulder Emergency Preparedness E-mail System
(Under Development)

24. Email / Internet – Commercial SourceEmail / Internet – Commercial Source
Types of Warning:
• Local, State and Federal Emergency Information
• Severe Weather Information and General News
Pros:
• Wide variety of customized information can be received
• Some venders offer basic services free of charge
Cons:
• Reliant on vender’s technology to pull local events from other
warning systems.
• Computers being on in severe weather is not recommended
• Reliant on internet connection
A Few Venders:
• http://www.emergencyemailnetwork.com/
• http://www.stormwarn.com/

25. Cell Phone and Pager – TextCell Phone and Pager – Text
Messaging (Commercial Vender)Messaging (Commercial Vender)
Types of Warning:
• Local, State and Federal Emergency Information
• Severe Weather Information and General News
Pros:
• Wide variety of customized information can be received
• Some venders offer basic services free of charge if your device has
an email address
• Compatible with most commercial cell phone and pager service
providers
Cons:
• Reliant on vender’s technology to pull local events from other warning
systems
A Few Venders:
• http://www.emergencyemailnetwork.com/
• http://www.stormwarn.com/

26. Public Phone TreesPublic Phone Trees
Types of Warning:
• Local Emergency Information
Pros:
• Deliver message with 2-way communication
• Special Needs Options Available
Cons:
• The further down the phone tree a recipient is, the more likely a
message will be incorrect.
• Time required to make phone calls
• The possibility of someone not picking up and breaking the chain
• Reliant on working phone service
Groups that could benefit from an emergency phone tree:
Home owners associations
Building & condominium
residents
Parent-teacher
associations
Scouting organizations
Clubs
Family or friends
Co-workers
Business groups

27. Public Phone TreesPublic Phone Trees
Suggestion:
• Build a body system into the
phone tree for redundancy
Caller 1
Caller 6
Caller 5
Caller 2
Caller 4
Caller 3
Caller 8
Caller 7
Caller 10
Caller 9
Caller 12
Caller 11

28. Public Warning SirensPublic Warning Sirens
Types of Warning:
• Local Emergency Information – with immediate danger to life or
property
• Severe Weather – with immediate danger to life or property
Pros:
• Sirens placed in hazard areas
• Most sirens can deliver voice message
• Messages can be prescripted or recorded at time of event
• Sirens use solar power and are connect by radio
• Sirens have back-up batteries
Cons:
• Not audible throughout entire county
• Will not hear sirens if inside structure
• Siren is directional – if you can’t understand the message, wait 30 to
60 seconds for speaker to turn your way.
• Can only provide a short message

29. PublicPublic
WarningWarning
SirensSirens
Also:
• Eldorado
Springs
• Erie
• Lafayette
• Longmont
• Louisville
• Lyons

30. NOAA All-Hazard RadioNOAA All-Hazard Radio
Types of Warning:
• Local, State and Federal Emergency Information
• Severe Weather Information
Pros:
• Using SAME technology, location specific warnings can be heard.
• Using SAME technology, a receiver will activate when a warning is
issued
• Receivers can be setup to receive only certain kinds of warning
• Special Needs Options Available
Cons:
• Reliant on adequate signal strength
• Reliant on radio set-up
• SAME technology divides warning to the county level only (currently)
For more information:
• http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/awebphp/nwrnoaa.phphttp://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/awebphp/nwrnoaa.php
• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htmhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htm

31. Delivery Methods that are notDelivery Methods that are not
Currently SupportedCurrently Supported
• Cellular Phone Voice Emergency Call
Back
• Voice over Internet

32. RecommendationsRecommendations
• Subscribe to a wireless email alerting system if
you carry an alphanumeric pager, cellular phone
or wireless PDA.
• Rely on the sirens only for outdoor warning.
• If you have an adequate signal, purchase an All-
Hazard Alert Radio.
• After receiving a warning, turn to broadcast radio
or television for details and follow-up information.

33. Session SummarySession Summary
• Be prepared to care for yourself, your
family and help your coworkers.
• Create personal, family, neighborhood and
workplace preparedness plans.
• Select warning devices that work for you.
• Decide if you want further training.
• Decide if you want to volunteer before an
emergency occurs.

34. Questions?Questions?
Thank You

35. Symposium Web LinksSymposium Web Links
www.readybouldercounty.comwww.readybouldercounty.com
www.co.boulder.co.uswww.co.boulder.co.us