You will receive a pack back full of emergency supplies, vest, ID tag and a certificate upon completion of the eight week course. It is all FREE! You will be trained in fire suppression, medical procedures, search and rescue, how to recognize terrorism, disaster psychology and disaster preparedness.

Call our office for more information 281.446.4928 ask for Carole.

Class starts:  9.18.12 Tuesdays 6:30 to 9:30 pm. every Tuesday for 8 wks.

www.harriscountycitizencorps.com

U.S. MARSHALS

The first speaker was U.S. Marshal Alfredo Perez. Perez showed a Power Point presentation and explained the many duties U.S. Marshals are called upon to perform. Those duties include the transport of prisoners, protection of federal judges, serving court documents, and conducting SWAT operations. In 1995, the air fleets of the US Marshals Service and the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) merged to create the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS). Managed by the Marshals service, JPATS is one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world, handling about 977 requests every day to move prisoners between judicial districts, correctional institutional and foreign countries.

The U.S. Marshals Service provides for the security, health and safety of government witnesses and their immediate dependents whose lives are in danger as a result of their testimony against drug traffickers, terrorists, organized crime members and other major criminals.

AVFD AMBULANCE BUS

The second speaker was EMS Chief Sean Conley of the Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD). Conley showed a Power Point presentation about the SETRAC AMBUS (Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council –Ambulance Bus). SETRAC is a state regulated organization put in place to aid Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitals prepare for disasters. SETRAC also coordinates large event response and supports active events.

The bus is 40 feet long and 9 feet wide. It has been reconfigured with seats that convert to patient beds. The bus can hold up to 26 patients sitting or 12 lying down. The bed system was constructed separately so a mix of beds and seats can be used simultaneously. It is ideal for firefighters’ rehabilitation at large fire incidents. It made history this past summer by being the first AMBUS in the state of Texas to be deployed to a wildfire at Bastrop.

The bus is equipped with an oxygen delivery system for each bed and features carbon monoxide detectors as well as radiation detectors. Each time the bus deploys, it will be staffed with a medical strike team consisting of a strike team leader and three paramedics.

The AMBUS is maintained by AVFD personnel and housed at AVFD Station 2 on Atascocita Road. It is the only AMBUS in the region at this time. There are plans to add another one in the near future.

CRTF was formed in 2005 by the Humble Office of Emergency Management and several other agencies, including HAAM, Homewood Suites owner Philippe Cras and several churches after the Katrina /Rita hurricanes in the area.

“We quickly saw and were made aware of the need for instant help for citizens during disasters and not the promised 72-hour waiting period that government has promised before help will arrive,” said CRTF spokeswoman Carole Chambers. “Government does a wonderful job of getting aid out to people fast, [but] what the average citizen doesn’t realize is the work that goes on behind the scenes to make that aid happen. The Office of Emergency Management in Humble does an awesome job of getting help out to our citizens, but it takes volunteers and neighbors to do the real work. That is why we formed the CRTF.”

CRTF is a networking group of emergency management agencies, fire departments and hospitals, as well as local, county and state government, businesses, churches, schools, organizations, CERT members, ARES Radios and volunteers.

“We work together, share resources, have plans, and are ready for when that next disaster hits our area,” Chambers said.

CRTF meets every other month on the second Friday of the month, at 1 p.m. at Homewood Suites, in Kingwood. It is free to join.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  Over the last few weeks states throughout the country have been affected by deadly tornado outbreaks.  State emergency management officials in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee have reported damages from tornadoes in some areas.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and those whose lives have been affected by the storms. 

According to the Storm Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the tornado conditions in portions of the South are likely high today.  FEMA, through our regional offices in Kansas City, Mo., Chicago, Ill. and Atlanta, GA, is closely monitoring conditions in the Midwest states affected by this severe weather, and FEMA stands ready to support the states as requested. FEMA also remains in close contact with our federal partners at the National Weather Service, especially since these storms can sometime occur unexpectedly with little to no warning. As we approach the Spring season, it is important to remember that springtime often brings severe weather including thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding.

“Severe weather can strike when you least expect it,” says Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Remember, no matter where you live, it’s important to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news and to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings, and follow instructions of state and local officials.”

There are simple steps we can do to be prepared.  FEMA urges families to have a plan for what you and your family will do if there is a disaster, and prepare an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car to help prepare for power outages or impassable roads.  It’s important to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings and follow the direction provided by local officials. Be sure to check your homeowner or renter insurance.  Most homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. Most everyone can purchase flood insurance – including renters, business owners, and homeowners.  Individuals can learn more about their flood risk, and how to get their flood insurance policy, by visiting www.FloodSmart.gov. 

If you have severe weather in your area, keep in mind these safety tips:

• Continue to monitor your battery-powered radio or television for emergency information.

• Injury may occur when people walk among disaster debris and enter damaged buildings. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.

• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. Residents of mobile homes must plan in advance and identify safe shelter in a nearby building.

• If a flood is likely in your area, be aware that flash flooding can occur.  If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.  Do not wait for instructions to move.

• Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report downed power lines and electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.

• After a disaster, be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards in your home. Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you. 

When natural disasters strike, such as tornadoes, the emergency responders and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups in the local areas are the first to provide much needed assistance.  During this time, FEMA continues to coordinate closely with state and local partners to monitor what needs may arise as a result of the storms. 

More information on tornado preparedness and flooding is available at www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov.

We have two very important speakers lined up for this meeting!  Our first speaker will be  U.S. Marshal Alfredo Perez. His office is in charge of protecting Federal Judges, transporting prisoners in and out of the country, drug raids, swat teams, task force, asset forfeiture sales, witness protection programs just to name a few. He will speak to our group about everything US Marshals do in our areas and answer questions for you afterwards.

Our second guest is the SETRAC  (Southeast Texas Region Area Council) AMBUS  (Amblance bus) that is capable of holding up to 17 to 26 patients. It is housed at the Atascocita Fire Department on Atascocita Road & Woodland Hills. There are just a few of these AMBUSes in the region and we are lucky to have one here in our region.

Hope to see all of our members there!

CRTF BOARD OF DIRECTORS HARD AT WORK!!! 4.13.12

CRTF Board Display 4.13.2012

Community Response Task Force a/k/a/ CRTF Board Members, Clint Johnson, Philippe Cras

Steve Cooper, Richard Driscoll and Carole Chambers, set up a table at at the Rotary

Club of Humble International Annual Spaghetti Supper on April 13, 2012.  Many area

residents stopped by to learn about how the CRTF can aid them in their time of need

after a disaster strikes our area, or how they can join and become part of our wonderful

networking organization of volunteers from all walks and skills of life. Call us for more

information at 281.446.4928 to become part of our team. The only costs is your time!

Be a survivor, not a victim!

Click here to view past conference presentations.

Representatives of more than 30 agencies on the Governor’s Emergency Management Council attend, along with public officials from the local, state and national governments, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, Texas Military Forces, voluntary organizations and private sector partners. Officials from higher education, public education, health and medical care, border security and port security, transportation and cyber security also attend.

Why Attend?
Conference attendees have multiple opportunities to meet and network with local, state, and national emergency management professionals. Attendees also benefit from choosing among more than 200 workshops and training classes to attend covering a variety of all-hazards topics.

Why Exhibit?
Conference exhibitors receive prime opportunities to meet face-to-face with decision makers and emergency management professionals looking for essential products and services to help ensure their communities and organizations are prepared for the next event or incident.

Visit this page throughout the year for more information on future TDEM conferences, or call (512) 424-2138 to request more information.

Could volunteering be good for your health? A new report that draws from the results of more than 30 studies on the topic says yes. According to the report, older people who volunteer enjoy longer lives, higher functional ability, and lower rates of depression and heart disease.

“Volunteering can give you a new sense of purpose and keep you active. If people volunteer regularly it helps contribute to the maintenance of a strong social network,” says Robert Grimm, director of the research and policy development office at the Corporation for National & Community Service, a government organization that promotes community service and published the report. This seems especially true in an American culture in which older people often find themselves feeling isolated and alone–proven risk factors for depression and other health problems. Two of the studies indicate that there is a threshold of about 100 hours per year of volunteer activity, or about two hours per week, required to achieve a health benefit.

The sense of social connectedness that volunteering can produce is critical, agrees Stephen Post, director of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, a Case Western Reserve University research group that focuses on the scientific study of altruism, compassion, and service. “The helping impulse is very fundamental. When it is locked off we do not flourish,” he says. Though Post acknowledges that the scientific study of altruism is new and that researchers have yet to tease out exactly how helping others could improve health, he notes that the stress hormones associated with depression, such as cortisol and epinephrine, have been shown to impair the immune system. By contrast, oxytocin, which seems to cause a “helper’s high,” may offer protective benefits. “Causality is such a complicated matter. Could we have the cart before the horse?” asks Post, referring to the reality that having good health in the first place allows higher rates of volunteering. But many of the studies–which control for this fact–suggest that volunteering provides an additional benefit.

© U.S News

by Julie Bonnin | April 12, 2010 2:36 pm