Portsmouth This Week Tackles Emergency Preparedness

By Doug Smith

We are currently in the midst of hurricane season and our guests on the latest edition of Portsmouth this Week were Portsmouth EMA Director, John King and the Director of the newly-formed Aquidneck Island Emergency Volunteer Alliance (AVEA), Carmella Geer. Topics of discussion included what all need to do to prepare for the next storm. Storm preparation should start now and includes staying informed about local weather forecasts and alerts, making a family plan to ensure that everyone in your family knows what you plan to do in the event of a major weather or other disaster, and creating an emergency kit with a basic medical kit and water and non-perishable food for all for up to 72 hours.

A first step is book-marking the Portsmouth EMA website www.portsmouthedmergency.com , where you can sign up on Facebook (PortsmouthEmergency) and Twitter (@PortsmouthEmerg) for Portsmouth EMA bulletins. On a smart phone, these social media feeds can often be accessed during power outages and they provide a valuable way for two-way communication between you and the Portsmouth EMA team.

You should also consider getting involved with local EMA organizations. Click on the Volunteer tab on the Portsmouth EMA website for details about how you can help.

Carmella Geer pointed out that local residents can also help man the local island-wide Red Cross Emergency Shelter at Gaudet Middle School. Red Cross Training is available for those who want to help out at the shelter. Contact the Aquidneck Island Volunteer Alliance (AVEA) at the web address on our video. She recently hosted a information and training session at Gaudet School to familiarize interested people with shelter operations. More such open-houses will be held in the coming weeks.

Now is the time to think about the next storm – as a coastal community, we are highly vulnerable to both summer and winter storms, with the high winds, heavy rain and tidal surge that they bring. Watch the program for details about how you can get ready.

The August 22 Edition of Portsmouth This Week – Emergency Preparedness with John King, Portsmouth EMA Director, and Carmela Geer, AI Emergency Volunteer Alliance, is available at:

http://youtu.be/hdnnCs5Coy4

This show and all our other shows are also available at a link on the www.portsmouthri.com web site.