Residents and Businesses: Learn How to Prepare for Emergencies

In partnership with the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), Fairfax County’s Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, Fire and Rescue Department and Health Department’s Office of Emergency Preparedness are sponsoring “Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery in McLean: What You Can Do.”

The event — especially timely since September is National Preparedness Month — will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. in McLean.

The program will include panel discussions, focusing on what residents and businesses can do to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Panelists include:

• David McKernan, coordinator of emergency management, who will talk about preparing for the unexpected by building a resilient community.
• Fire Chief Richard Bowers Jr. will discuss the fire department’s Safety in Our Community (SIOC) program, aimed at preventing the 9-1-1 call.
• Marc Barbiere, emergency management coordinator for the Health Department, will present on enhancing nursing home emergency preparedness.
• Paul Norton, commander of the McLean District Police Station, will inform residents on how to observe, communicate and stay informed during emergencies.

For more information and details concerning this program, contact Patrick Smaldore at 703-528-3935, TTY 711, or by email.

The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) has served since 1914 as an unofficial town council for the residents of the McLean area, which has no governmental structure of its own. MCA provides a forum for McLean residents to discuss ways to resolve community problems and countywide issues affecting the area. The MCA serves as the umbrella organization for homeowner, civic and community associations in the McLean Planning District.