
	Community Safety/Security Newsletter - March 2006

Welcome to the March 2006 Issue!

This is the Second Community Safety/Security Newsletter for people who are interested in making their homes, families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities safer. You are getting this newsletter because you mentioned to me that you were interested in these issues at some point when we were communicating over the past couple of years. I have to apologize first , for how long it has been since the last newsletter, and second, for the fact that some of you may not have wanted to get this newsletter. We had some technical difficulties getting the newsletter out and so we have switched to a new provider. If you no longer wish to receive this email, there is an unsubscribe link at the end. We don't want to send this out to anyone who doesn't wish to receive it.

Having said that, there's a lot going on this month. There's an article contributed by Michael Roenicke on using amateur radio operators for communications in a disaster. We've released a new e-book called: How to C.O.P.E. With Terrorism which is free to all newsletter subscribers and their friends/families. And there is shelter in place information, for anyone who might be caught in a chemical release.

We still would like to know if there is anything specific you would like us to cover and feel free to visit our website: www.oursafetowns.com to get information and resources. Thanks and I look forward to your help in making the world a little safer!

-Stephen

An Article on the Use of Amateur Radio Operators During Emergencies

In times of natural and manmade disasters, often a major problem that arises is loss of public utilities and methods of communication between Government Emergency Services and the public. For example, during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 not only was power knocked out in the affected areas, but virtually all forms of communication were devastated as well. This included regular phone service, cell phone towers and even Police and Fire Department radio antenna structures.

The solution? Amateur Radio, more commonly known as HAM Radio. Of the many federally licensed Amateur Radio Operators in the areas affected by Katrina and from all over the United States, several of them unselfishly VOLUNTEERED their time, equipment and effort to go to these areas and provide and assist with emergency communications into and out of these areas.

Continued...

Recent and Upcoming Events

Stephen's Book: Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe has now been purchased by 2 cities, a Native American Tribe, a major food manufacturer, and the International Association of Bomb Technicians for their annual conference. It was also provided to the annual CUPA Conference by three sponsors: BASF, Schirmer Engineering and PIRK Environmental Recordkeeping. If you are part of a conference committee and would like to have copies of Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe sponsored for your conference, please contact us directly with an estimate of the number of people attending your conference and the demographics of your attendees. If your company would like to sponsor copies for a conference, and have your name included in copies which go to each attendee, please contact us with the name of the conference and a website where we might be able to get conference committee information. Stephen will be speaking at the National Institute for Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism Preparedness conference on May 2. The conference runs from Apr 30 - May 3 and this year's theme is "School Safety".

What lies ahead?

<>For our next issue, please let us know of anything specific that you would like us to address. Spread the news about the newsletter. We have released the free E-Book, How to C.O.P.E with Terrorism and it is available on our website. Click on the "Order Now!" link, or on the picture of the book and it will take you to the shopping cart. The book is free of charge and you can feel free to forward it to all of your friends, family and co-workers, or alternately, you can forward them this mailing list and they can download it themselves. As always, comments on the e-book are appreciated! Lastly, we are considering doing two things over the next few newsletters: 1) starting an opinion column which discusses security and safety issues and 2) starting a Communty Safety Podcast. If you are interested in either of these, please let me know. If we have enough support, we will set them up.

See you next month!

Useful Information

In a Chemical Emergency, whether due to attack or accident, you will have two options: evacuate or shelter in place. If you are at home when the chemical is released, you should shelter in place. Take the following steps (Based on the American Red Cross website and the South Bay Community Awareness and Emergency Response Group Shelter-In-Place Program.) :

At Home:

Close/lock all windows and exterior doors.
If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
Close the fireplace damper.
Get the family disaster kit and turn the radio on.
Go to an interior room without windows that's above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.
If you can, have a hard-wired telephone in the room you go to. Call your emergency contact and have the phone ready in case you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cell phone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas which have the highest danger to your community.

Safety Tip!

In an emergency, local phone circuits can become overloaded very quickly. Make sure that you have an out-of-state contact for emergencies and make sure that your entire family has the phone number. In an emergency, everyone can check in with the designated contact, and you will know that everyone is safe. Two considerations: 1) If you put the contact information on a card to be carried in your family's wallets and purses, make sure that you don't put too much information on, in case the card is lost or stolen. 2) Make sure that your out-of -state contact knows that they are your emergency contact.