Christmas Light Safety

Christmas lights are beautiful and much safer than candles, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Christmas lights can get hot enough to burn or ignite other decorations. The cords can fray, leading to a short. Decorating with lights often requires the use of a ladder, and improper use could lead to an injury. Practice ladder safety when you are putting up Christmas lights.


When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.

Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.

Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.

Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.

Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.

Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.

Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.

Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.

All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.

Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.

Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).

Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.

When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.

Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.

ETMA AUGUST MEETING

Remember East Texas Mutual Aid Association meeting Thursday night 7:00 PM. This month's meeting hosted by Tri-Community VFD at Magnolia Springs.

ICS-300 ICS FOR EXPANDING INCIDENTS

Jasper/Newton/Sabine Counties Emergency Management/Homeland Security will host the following course on August 23 and 24. In order to register for the class, it will be necessary for you to go to the Texas Department of Public Safety "Preparing Texas" website at https://www.preparingtexas.org/ and sign up on your account. If you do not have an account it will be necessary to set up one.


The Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents course provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the ICS. The course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses.

Prerequisites:

All of the following are required:

• IS-700: Introduction to NIMS

• ICS-100: Introduction to ICS

• ICS-200: Basic ICS

Cost:

No tuition is charged.

Class Name: ICS-300: Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

Course Number: G-300

Date Span: 8/23/2010 - 8/24/2010

Class Times: 08/23 08:00 - 17:00

08/24 08:00 - 17:00


Location: Jasper Fire Department

205 Water

JASPER, TX 75951

County: JASPER

Instructor: Smith, Billy - Lead Instructor
Joe Wilkinson - Adjunct Instructor
Olen Bean - Adjunct Instructor

Provider: TDEM - Emergency Management Training

Point of Contact: Smith, Billy

Jasper County

409-994-2543

billy.smith@co.jasper.tx.us



Hours: 18.00

Provider: TDEM - Emergency Management Training

Sponsor: TDEM

Disciplines: Emergency Management

Emergency Medical Service

Fire Service

Government Administration

Hazmat

Health Care

Law Enforcement

Public Health

Public Safety Communications

Public Works


We suggest you register as soon as possible because training spaces are limited. This course is limited to only 25 students and will partisipants will be selected on "first come basis" and jurisdictional needs and is open statewide.


This course is also TCLEOS approved.

newton CERT'S Team Graduate

Newton CERT completes eight week committment to training and dedication. This brings the Jasper, Newton and Sabine Counties Emergency Management's CERT team to 60 volunteers. Congratulation and thanks for your dedication

Carrie Underwood Independence day

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Tropical Storm Alex

These graphics show probabilities of sustained (1-minute average) surface wind speeds equal to or exceeding 34 kt...39 mph (tropical storm force). These wind speed probability graphics are based on the official National Hurricane Center (NHC) track, intensity, and wind radii forecasts, and on NHC forecast error statistics for those forecast variables during recent years. Each graphic provides cumulative probabilities that wind speeds of at least 39 mph will occur during cumulative time periods at each specific point on the map. The cumulative periods begin at the start of the forecast period and extend through the entire 5-day forecast period at cumulative 12-hour intervals (i.e., 0-12 h, 0-24 h, 0-36 h, ... , 0-120 h). An individual graphic is produced for each cumulative interval, and the capability to zoom and animate through the periods is provided. To assess the overall risk of experiencing winds of at least 39 mph at any location, the 120-h graphics are recommended.


These probabilities will be updated by the NHC with each advisory package for all active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins. While separate graphics are focused on each individual tropical cyclone, probabilities resulting from more than one active tropical cyclone may be seen on each graphic.

Additionally, these probability products are available on the National Weather Service's National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) graphical tropical webpage.

The previously provided strike probability product (discontinued after 2005) conveyed the chances of a "close" approach of the center of the cyclone. However, these new probability products are about the weather. That is, these cumulative wind speed probabilities provide the chances that wind speeds of at least 39 mph will occur at individual locations. The cumulative probabilities can answer the question, "What are the chances that sustained winds of tropical storm or hurricane force will occur at any specific location?" This can also help one answer the question, "Do I need to take certain actions to prepare?" A companion product, the wind speed probability text product, will also be issued and updated with each advisory package. That product is recommended to more easily assess when winds of each threshold are most likely to start at any specific location, helping to answer the question, "How long do I have to prepare?" Overall, these probabilities provide users with information that can enhance their ability to make preparedness decisions specific to their own situations.

It is important for users to realize that wind speed probabilities that might seem relatively small at their location might still be quite significant, since they indicate that there is a chance that a damaging or even extreme event could occur that warrants preparations to protect lives and property.

Tropical Depression #1 Forms

The first tropical depression of the 2010 season has formed.

This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow). The orange circle indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone. The black line, when selected, and dots show the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast track of the center at the times indicated. The dot indicating the forecast center location will be black if the cyclone is forecast to be tropical and will be white with a black outline if the cyclone is forecast to be extratropical. If only an L is displayed, then the system is forecast to be a remnant low. The letter inside the dot indicates the NHC's forecast intensity for that time.

NHC tropical cyclone forecast tracks can be in error. This forecast uncertainty is conveyed by the track forecast "cone", the solid white and stippled white areas in the graphic. The solid white area depicts the track forecast uncertainty for days 1-3 of the forecast, while the stippled area depicts the uncertainty on days 4-5. Historical data indicate that the entire 5-day path of the center of the tropical cyclone will remain within the cone about 60-70% of the time. To form the cone, a set of imaginary circles are placed along the forecast track at the 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h positions, where the size of each circle is set so that it encloses 67% of the previous five years official forecast errors. The cone is then formed by smoothly connecting the area swept out by the set of circles.

There is also uncertainty in the NHC intensity forecasts. The Maximum 1-minute Wind Speed Probability Table provides intensity forecast and uncertainty information.

It is also important to realize that a tropical cyclone is not a point. Their effects can span many hundreds of miles from the center. The area experiencing hurricane force (one-minute average wind speeds of at least 74 mph) and tropical storm force (one-minute average wind speeds of 39-73 mph) winds can extend well beyond the white areas shown enclosing the most likely track area of the center. The distribution of hurricane and tropical storm force winds in this tropical cyclone can be seen in the Wind History graphic linked above.

Considering the combined forecast uncertainties in track, intensity, and size, the chances that any particular location will experience winds of 34 kt (tropical storm force), 50 kt, or 64 kt (hurricane force) from this tropical cyclone are presented in tabular form for selected locations and forecast positions. This information is also presented in graphical form for the 34 kt, 50 kt, and 64 kt thresholds.

Hurricane Ike - A Mighty Storm

Reasoning With Hurricane Season

June ETMA Meeting

Remember East Texas Mutual Aid Association meeting Thursday night (June 17) at 7 PM. The meeting will be hosted by Kirbyville Fire Department and be helld at the JNEC building (812 South Margaret St.) in Kirbyville

DPS Director Appoints Interim Chief of Emergency Management

Friday, June 11, 2010 0

San Antonio District Fire Chief W. Nim Kidd has been named as the interim chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management starting July 1, 2010. Chief Kidd replaces Jack Colley, who suffered a fatal heart attack last month.

Kidd’s appointment was made by Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, with the concurrence of Governor Rick Perry and Allan Polunsky, chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission.

“Jack Colley was a national icon in emergency management, a man whose invaluable service saved countless lives in Texas and established a legacy of competence that will be felt for years to come,” Director McCraw said. “As we enter the 2010 Hurricane Season, we are fortunate to welcome Chief Kidd, an experienced leader in handling disasters in our state, whose skills and dedication will keep Texas a national leader in emergency preparedness and management.”

Chief Kidd is currently San Antonio’s Homeland Security Director, managing the Homeland Security Grant Program, and is chair of the Urban Area Security Initiative Working Group. Kidd has also served as the city’s Emergency Manager since 2004, managing the city’s preparedness, response and recovery efforts for all local disasters, including more than a dozen substantial disasters impacting the community.

Kidd has worked with the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) since 1993, holding the rank of firefighter, fire apparatus operator, lieutenant, captain, and District Fire Chief. He has led the SAFD Technical Rescue Team and the Hazardous Material Response Team.

Additionally, Kidd has served as a member of Texas Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team since 1997, responding to state and national disasters including the World Trade Center attack in September 2001. Chief Kidd holds the Certified Emergency Manager designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Emergency Management Association of Texas. Chief Kidd currently serves on the Governor’s Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Advisory Council-Disaster Committee, and the Governor’s Texas Preparedness Advisory Council for the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

DPS troopers checking 18-wheeler safety June 8-10

During RoadCheck 2010, law enforcement agencies across the United States, Mexico and Canada will be checking commercial motor vehicles such as 18-wheelers. The 72-hour intensive inspection program runs from June 8 through 10 throughout North America.

DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers and noncommissioned inspectors, along with Highway Patrol troopers who have received specialized training in commercial vehicle inspection, will stop thousands of commercial vehicles to inspect safety equipment and check driver log books, driver licenses and endorsements. Inspectors will also look for possible drug or alcohol use.

“We want to emphasize to all commercial vehicle operators traveling through Texas that safety is our foremost concern. We’ll be looking for trucks and drivers who aren’t complying with safety requirements, and we’ll place them out of service if necessary,” said David Baker, the assistant director who oversees the Texas Highway Patrol.

During Roadcheck 2009, DPS inspectors examined 7,316 vehicles in Texas. As a result, troopers removed 1,636 vehicles and 202 drivers from service because of the serious nature of their safety violations. Inspectors placed 125 drivers out of service for hours-of-service violations. Other violations ranged from false log violations, having the improper endorsement to suspended, expired and cancelled licenses. Seven drivers were placed out of service for drug or alcohol violations. Troopers issued 12 tickets for seat belt violations.

The Roadcheck program, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is designed to reduce commercial vehicle highway fatalities through increased vehicle safety. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which sponsors Roadcheck, reports a significant decrease in the commercial vehicle crash rate in North America since the program’s start in 1988.

Vehicles passing inspection receive a CVSA decal exempting the vehicle from inspection for a 90-day period, unless they have an obvious safety defect. DPS troopers issued 3,037 decals during Roadcheck 2009.

USA, TX, TEXAS CITY, MAY 6 2010. BP: 500,000 POUNDS OF EMISSIONS RELEASED

 At BP’s Texas City refinery, more than 400 pounds a day of benzene — 40 times the state reportable levels — was released during a 40-day period while a subunit of the refinery’s ultracracker unit was offline, according to a company filing with the state’s environmental agency Friday. In all, BP officials said more than 500,000 pounds of pollutants and nonpollutants were released while the company increased flaring as they tried to repair a compressor on the faulty unit. Refinery spokesman Michael Marr said in its follow up reporting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, BP estimated 36,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 17,000 pounds of benzene were released in the 40 days. State law requires 10 pounds or more of benzene and 200 pounds or more of nitrogen oxide during a 24-hour period must be reported through the commission’s air emissions database. Benzene is a carcinogen naturally found in oil that has been linked to some forms of cancer, according to U.S. Health and Human Services records. Nitrogen oxides react to sunlight to form ozone and can damage lung tissue and cause respiratory problems. However, neither of the levels of the emissions reached levels that required self-reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Marr said. The EPA requires any nitrogen oxides release of more than 1,000 pounds a day be reported, while the federal agency does not require reports of benzene emissions. According to BP’s filing with the TCEQ, the ultracracker’s hydrogen compressor went offline April 6 and was not repaired or restarted until May 16. Because of the malfunction, the subunit was shut down, and materials were purged and gasses were rerouted to a flare, according to the company’s filing. The ultracracker, which remained operable, can process 65,000 barrels of oil per day and mostly produces high-octane blending components for gasoline. The ultracracker also can produce ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane and distillate. The bulk of the emissions during that time included an estimated 189,000 pounds of carbon monoxide and 61,000 pounds of propane, according to the company’s report to the TCEQ. “During this time period, the site’s fenceline monitoring did not indicate any excess readings,” Marr said. “Also of note, the site performed modeling of the emissions using TCEQ-approved modeling methods, and that modeling did not indicate an exceedance of regulatory exposure limits to workers or the community at any time during the flaring.” TCEQ spokeswoman Andrea Morrow said the filing starts a process that includes a review by the agency that could end up before the commission’s enforcement division. She said depending on why and what caused the emissions, the agency could take enforcement action. But without knowing the specifics of the BP emissions, she could not comment on what action the agency could or would take. She did caution the figures BP included in its report likely were estimates that will be higher than what actually was released. She said companies that underreport emissions face penalties. So the companies often will “shoot high,” Morrow said. According to BP’s TCEQ filing, all of the figures were estimates.

Benzene Emissions

According to a 2008 report by the Environmental Integrity Project, BP’s Texas City refinery was among four refineries in the nation that had the largest increases in benzene emissions even as overall benzene emissions among U.S. refiners decreased by more than 18 percent between 2000 and 2008. The environmental group claims refiners actually underreport how much of the carcinogen is released because of inadequate EPA standards. However, according to a report to the Texas City-La Marque Community Advisory Council by the Galveston County Health District’s director of Environmental Health last summer, benzene emissions in Texas City decreased by 74 percent between 1993 and 2008. That report does not single out BP nor attribute how much each of the city’s chemical plants or refineries reduced benzene emissions.

Source: Environmental Integrity Project, Texas City-La Marque Community Advisory Council

Subject: Revised Hurricane Response Plan Emergency

The following announces  the recent revision to the State of Texas Hurricane Response Plan, dated April 30, 2010, and request your assistance in distributing the information. The revised documents are located on the TDEM website:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/downloadableforms.htm#hurrevac.

Summary of Changes

- The document was renamed Hurricane Response Plan to more accurately reflect the operational construct of the plan.

- The basic plan was revised to include revisions to the hurricane response organization, protocols, and operations.

- It incorporates and/or partially incorporates recent legislative changes to Government Code, Chapter 418. The TDEM Plans Unit continues to revise other state planning documents to fully incorporate these requirements. Changes to this plan include:

o Legal authorities granted to the Governor and Emergency Management Directors during a Mandatory Evacuation.

o DEM name change to TDEM.

o Provisions to replenish food supplies of food banks or pantries.

o Provides for the initial response after a disaster, reentry, and transition to the program of recovery.

o Better incorporates the integration of volunteer groups into emergency plans and encourages the public to participate in volunteer emergency teams that respond to disasters.

o Defines individuals with special needs.

o Enhanced medical special needs categories, requirements for medical special needs and minimum health-related standards for shelters operated with state funds. These requirements will be further developed during the revisions of State Annex H, Health and Medical, and Annex C, Shelter and Mass Care.

o Establishes a phased reentry plan that accommodates local plans and local official preferences with respect to reentry.

o Addresses license portability, post disaster evaluations and seizure of State or federal resource restrictions.

- The Disaster District Traffic Management Plans were revised and include the new district area identifiers.

- The Plan includes new attachments addressing the Special Needs Tracking System, Reentry Task Forces, Reentry Plan, Commodity Distribution Plan, and Fuel Operations Plan.

Hurricane Season 2010 begins today.

Once again, we have reached June 1st, and it is unfortunately the start of yet another Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The patterns, water temperatures, and lack of el Nino this year will likely increase the chances of an active year.
 
Time is now to begin to prepare!

Cornyn Announces East End Volunteer Fire Department to Receive $84,550 Grant

WASHINGTON— East End Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant of $84,550 to support firefighters and their work as first responders, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Friday. The funding can be used for training and support operations, and to purchase firefighter safety and rescue equipment. It comes through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

“This funding will help make sure first responders at the East End Volunteer Fire Department will have the resources necessary to keep the surrounding community safe,” Sen. Cornyn said. “We have a responsibility to support those working on the front lines every day to protect families, homes and property.”

The award aims to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with respect to fire-related hazards.

Sen. Cornyn has held roundtables with emergency first responders across Texas as part of his ongoing effort to support their work. The events provide communities with the opportunity to express their needs and concerns directly to Sen. Cornyn.

The Office of Grants and Training, a component of the DHS Preparedness Directorate, partners with state and local officials to strengthen the capabilities of first responders in addressing emergencies and catastrophic incidents. The program provides a broad array of assistance to America’s emergency responders through funding, coordinated training, exercises, equipment acquisition, and technical assistance.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

Hurricane Preparedness Week in Texas

The week of May 23-29 , 2010 has been set as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Texas. This is an opportunity for everyone to become aware of the potential dangers and hazards that a hurricane can bring. Take this week to become familiar with emergency plans, evacuation routes and have supply kits prepared.

Burn ban in effect witihin the City of Jasper

The City of Jasper has announced an order restricting outdoor burning within the city. The ban, which prohibits all outdoor burning, in any form or fashion, was signed into effect, shortly after 2:00, on Tuesday afternoon, by Mayor Mike Lout, following discussions with City fire marshal Robert Matheson and others.

The ban will be in effect for seven days, unless it is extended by a vote of the Jasper City Council.

Violation of the burn ban is a class c misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00.

The ban was reportedly brought about due to the extremely dry conditions that have prevailed over the last few days, resulting in the high danger of fire.

UPDATE: The body of Trooper Chenault was found this morning in very shallow water in Lake Travis near Alligator Creek.

UPDATE: The body of Trooper Chenault was found this morning in very shallow water in Lake Travis near Alligator Creek.


He was found in the cove close to his home by a DPS diver.Search crews from multiple agencies agencies are looking for the body of a longtime Texas Department of Public Safety trooper assigned to the Capital Detail disappeared Monday evening at Lake Travis.Wesley Chenault, 50, went to go check his trot fishing lines around 5 p.m., according to DPS, and then didn’t answer phone calls later that evening. His wife found his boat on the opposite side of the trt line in a cove area of Lake Travis not far from their Spicewood Springs home on the western side of Lake Travis.Chenault is now presumed dead.Rescuers believe Monday evening’s thunderstorms may be a factor in Chenault’s disappearance.DPS helicopter and dive teams, Lower Colorado River Authority dive teams and Texas Parks and Recreation are searching the area.Early this morning DPS air support came into Montgomery County Airport to pick up a device for locating victims of drownings from First Response Outfitters in Willis.In addition Montgomery County Precinct 1 dive team members will leave in the morning to assist in the search.DPS trooper Robbie Barrera says Chenault had a passion for fishing. Chenault has been with DPS since 1986. He was assigned to the Texas State Capitol.

Early this morning DPS air support came into Montgomery County Airport to pick up a device for locating victims of drownings from First Response Outfitters in Willis.

In addition Montgomery County Precinct 1 dive team members will leave in the morning to assist in the search.

Travelers Warning For Falcon Lake, Texas

This is forwarded to you by the State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC).
Law enforcement agencies urging caution on Falcon Lake

Citing several armed robberies and attempted armed robberies on Falcon Lake in Zapata County, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office are strongly urging boaters on Falcon Lake to stay on the United States side of the lake and not venture into Mexican waters.

Three reported incidents since April 30 have raised concern among law enforcement officers in the Lake Falcon area. Two of the three incidents involved United States citizens who had gone into the Mexican side of the lake, passing the International Waters markers. Most of the incidents occurred in the Old Guerrero area, but it’s possible that other areas are a concern as well.

Fishermen are advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fishermen. These boats have a large prow, a small outboard motor without a cowling and no identification numbers on the hull.

Several bass fishing tournaments are scheduled for Falcon Lake during the next few weeks, and officials are concerned that they could be in danger if they cross into Mexican waters while they fish. One of the incidents occurred in U.S. waters.

This weekend, Zapata County Sheriff Sigi Gonzalez, will discuss these concerns with bass tournament participants. He has been working with Texas Parks and Wildlife regarding security matters on Falcon Lake. The DPS Border Security Operations Center and the Fusion Center are working with Zapata County and Parks and Wildlife to review protective measures in the area.

The robbers are believed to be members of a drug trafficking organization or members of an enforcer group linked to a drug trafficking organization who are heavily armed and using AK-47s or AR-15 rifles to threaten their victims. They appear to be using local Mexican fishermen to operate the boats to get close to American fishermen.

On April 30, five people in two different boats were fishing on Falcon Lake and went to the Old Guerrero area, where they were taking photos of the old church. While they were there, a boat with four heavily tattooed men approached the two boats quickly. The men identified themselves as “Federales,” but they were not wearing uniforms. The men boarded the boats, demanded cash and asked “where are the drugs?” The fishermen told the men that they had no drugs and were just fishing and taking photos. They ended up giving the men $200 cash and left the area. The pirates followed the two boats, but the U.S. boats were able to outrun them and the men stopped following once the two boats entered U.S. waters.

On May 6, three fishermen were about a quarter of a mile from Marker 14 on the north side of Salado Island on top of the ruins. As they were fishing, a boat with two men quickly approached and pointed AR-15s at the fishermen. One of the men boarded the boat and searched it, looking for drugs, cash and guns. During the incident, he chambered a round in the rifle and told the fishermen that he would shoot them if they did not give him money. The fishermen took money out of their wallets and gave it to them.

On May 16, law enforcement officers were told that some boaters were approached by a boat with five armed men on it. Investigators have not been able to locate the boaters to determine whether any cash was taken. This incident occurred on the United States side of the lake near Marker 7.

Anyone who is involved in an incident on Falcon Lake should dial 911 and report it to the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office.

To maximize safety, boaters should stay in U.S. waters on Falcon Lake and file a float plan. This means leaving a detailed note with family members telling the time and place of departure (boat ramp), destination and direction of travel, boater cell phone number if available, names of passengers and what they're wearing, and a description of the boater's vehicle and boat, including boat and vehicle license numbers.

The U.S. State Department website lists several travel alerts related to violence in Mexico. Travelers
should always check that website for the most up-to-date information related to security issues in Mexico. (See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html).

Jack Colley, 1948 - 2010

Jack Colley, 1948 - 2010

Jack Colley, head of the DPS Texas Division of Emergency Management, died on May 16. Colley, 62, suffered a heart attack in early May.

“Jack Colley was a valuable member of the Texas Department of Public Safety and a national icon in the profession of Emergency Management,” said Steve McCraw, director of the DPS. “Jack was a great Texan, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

At the state’s first-ever Texas Hurricane Conference in 2003, Colley summed up the philosophy that guided him during the many catastrophic events he oversaw on behalf of the State of Texas: “In disaster, the most important thing for you to know is that you are not alone.”

During his 12-plus years with the DPS, Colley was involved in the response and recovery to many of Texas’ largest incidents, disasters and emergencies, including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash (2003) and Hurricane Rita (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008).

Colley coordinated the effort to shelter thousands of Katrina evacuees in 2005 and then led the monumental evacuation of more than 3 million Texas residents as Hurricane Rita threatened the southeast Texas coast only weeks later.

In 2008, the Texas Division of Emergency Management responded to six hurricanes and tropical storms within a 90-day period. These storms included Hurricane Dolly, which devastated the Lower Rio Grande Valley July 23 and Hurricane Ike, which washed over Galveston and the southeast Texas coast on Sept. 13.

Under Colley’s guidance, Texas led the nation in a number of initiatives to make disaster response “quicker, faster, smarter,” which included work on systems to improve tracking of special needs evacuees and improved processes for safe re-entry of evacuees after the storm.

Over the past year, DEM has focused on Re-Entry Task Forces to bring back security, restore infrastructure, provide mass care and start recovery within the first 72 hours after a storm. In an effort to speed deployment of resources to states struck by mega-disasters, Colley pushed for an Interstate Emergency Response Support Plan (IERSP) with Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma – the first of its kind in the nation.

“In times of crisis, Texas depended on Jack Colley for leadership and he rose to the occasion each and every time. That leadership will be sorely missed,” said Allan B. Polunsky, chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission.

In the wake of Katrina in 2005, as it was learned that many people declined to evacuate if they could not bring their family pets, Colley began efforts to open evacuation and sheltering operations in Texas to include companion animals.

“A lot of jokes are made about it but it is simply not a joke. Nobody dies because they can’t bring their pet. This is Texas,” Colley once said.

Colley also served as the Assistant Director of the Texas Office of Homeland Security and was the State Administrative Agent for all Federal Homeland Security Programs within Texas. Colley was a member of the Governor's Homeland Security Council, the First Responder Advisory Council and the Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Protection Council. He was chair of the Texas Drought Preparedness Council.

Colley served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1997, retiring as a Colonel before joining DPS. He served in several positions of significant responsibility, including Chief Operations Officer for the Second Brigade and Headquarters, lst Cavalry Division and Division Chief for Strategic Planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense. Colley was a graduate of the U. S. Army War College and the Command and General Staff College. Colley earned a bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University in Commerce and a master’s in business from Abilene Christian University.

Funeral arrangements are pending.







### (PIO 2010-50)

Jack Colley Death

I was notified today the Jack Colley had passed away. Jack was the Assistant Director of Emergency Management for the State of Texas.


Jack was a friend of Southeast Texas and the State of Texas. We will miss him and his leadership to the Emergency Management Program for the State.

Funeral arrangements are pending. I will notify you when those arrangement are final.

Please remember to pray for Jack's family.

Storm Spotter Class to be offered in Jasper on May 18th

Storm Spotter Class to be offered in Jasper on May 18th


05/10/10

KJAS

If you listen to a KJAS weather forecast when severe weather is predicted, you have probably heard the term "storm spotter" mentioned several times. Storm spotters are trained weather observers, and the National Weather Service routinely relies upon them when there is a possibility for hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

If you are interested in becoming a trained storm spotter, the National Weather Service will be conducting a FREE class on storm spotting and hurricane preparedness on Tuesday, May 18th, 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at the LoneStar Youth Community Center at 750 Burch Street in Jasper.

A lite lunch will be provided, and there will be an open question & answer session following the training class.

Although there is no cost to attend the class, you are asked to RSVP so that the instructors can be prepared with enough materials for each class member.

The class is being sponsored by Oceans Behavioral Hospital, and Stat Care EMS.

For more information, call 350-8781, 383-9904, or 384-2074

Stat Care purchased by Acadian - largest private EMS in the nation

From KJAS Radio - Jasper

Acadian Ambulance Service, the largest privately owned ambulance service in the country, announced on Friday that they have purchased locally based Stat Care EMS. Acadian, which began operating in Texas in 2006, says they plan to assume Stat Care’s operations in Jefferson, Hardin, Jasper, Sabine and Newton Counties on May 25th, with no interruption of service.

Acadian says they hope to hire all qualified medics and dispatchers from StatCare. Those who are hired will receive the same or, in many cases, higher salaries based on their years of service with Stat Care, according to Acadian Ambulance officials.

Acadian officials say they plan on upgrading and expanding Stat Care’s communications center to create a state-of-the-art emergency medical dispatch center. All of Acadian’s responses in Southeast Texas will be dispatched from the Beaumont center.

Additionally, Acadian says they plan on using only certified medical dispatchers trained to offer callers pre-arrival instructions, so they can begin helping patients before an ambulance arrives.

Jack Colley Suffers Heart Attack.

Please remember to keep Jack Colley (Assistant Director - Texas Division of Emergency Management) in your prayers. Jack suffered a heart attack while hospitalized for high fever. Jack has been sedated and awaiting evaluation by his doctors.


Jack is a friend of Emergency Managers. He is tough and a real fighter. We can help him in his fight by our prayers for him and his family

Southeast Texas Counties In Moderate Drought Level

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles said on Thursday that southeast Texas, and the entire state of Louisiana are now experiencing light to moderate drought conditions, with the southern portions of Jasper and Newton Counties in the moderate drought range.


Meanwhile, the typically dry areas of central and west Texas are - surprisingly - enjoying a wet spring with no drought conditions.

As of Thursday, the 2010 rainfall total in nearby Beaumont was nearly 6 inches below normal.

Fire danger is a by-product of drought conditions, and local firefighters have been very busy in recent weeks battling wildfires - most of which began as controlled burns that grew out of control.

Thanks to KJAS for their approval to publish this from their site.

Gulf Oil Spill Unified Command Briefing 4-5-2010

Today at 7:04pmThe Unified Area Command held a press briefing on May 5 on the continued efforts to attack and contain pollution on and below the surface surrounding the Deepwater Horizon incident. The briefing took place at 2:15 pm CDT in Robert, La. Speakers were Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles.


Conference Highlights:

A fourth Incident Command Post was established in St. Petersburg, Fla. The other locations are in Mobile, Ala.; Houston, Texas; and Houma, La. The Unified Area Command is in Robert, La.

BP made $25 million block grants to the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi in order to accelerate the implementation of approved area contingency plans.

The containment system (cofferdam) is scheduled to be in place over one of the remaining leaks by Monday. Ships carrying the cofferdam infrastructure are sailing to the leak site today.

The cap recently secured over one of the oil leaks was accomplished by cutting off the end of the drill pipe where the leak occurred and placing a valve over it. This was conducted using a team of remotely operated vehicles.

Officials are discussing the use of subsea dispersants. Two test applications were conducted, with the second one finished last night. The results are being reviewed to determine whether this tool is feasible for future use.

Over the next 72 hours, the oil slick is not predicted to move significantly and changes will likely occur just along the fringes. Winds are predicted to move slowly south during this timeframe.

UPDATE 13: Deepwater Horizon update

UPDATE 13: Deepwater Horizon update

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ETMA Meeting - May

The next meeting of the East Texas Mutual Aid Association will be held at the Jasper Fire Department on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. This months meeting is being hosted by Stat Care EMS. We encourage all Fire Chiefs of V.F.D’s and department heads to be in attendance We hope you can make plans to attend. If you are unable to join us, we extend the invitation to anyone representing you or your organization.



If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Jasper County E.M. Billy Ted Smith at (409) 994-2543 or Kirbie Moss at 409-504-9047 .This includes any requests for department head updates or changes/additions to contact information. Hope to see you there.

WeatherBug Forecasts Active 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season

WeatherBug Forecasts Active 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Chief Colley To Visit Southeast Texas

Jack Colley, Chief of Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management will make a visit to southeast Texas on Thursday April 29. He will make his Pre-Hurricane Season appearence at the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission building in Beaumont at 1:30 PM. Invited guest are elected officials, Emergency Management Coordinators and response personnel. He will surely stress that we must do things "Quicker - Faster - Smarter".

Fiscal Year 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grants

Fiscal Year 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grants

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Guidance on the AFG Web site. The application period is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 26, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Applications for these grants must be received by Friday, May 28, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide approximately $390 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country. AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to obtain training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.

An applicant tutorial is available at www.firegrantsupport.com. The tutorial provides valuable grant information and will walk you through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial will provide an overview of the funding priorities and evaluation criteria.

The AFG Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Applicants who have questions regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grants opportunity should contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@.... During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EDT), but is prepared to revise hours of operation based on volume and demand

G-310 Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities Nacogdoches Library

Back to Course Description Course Description
G-310 - Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities

This course is designed to educate emergency management personnel from inland jurisdictions on the nature of the hurricane threat and the role they can expect to play in the response to that threat. There is heavy emphasis on hurricane hazards, particularly the elements that pose the greatest threat to inland communities. The course also acquaints the student with available planning and decision-making tools and details planning and preparation efforts to be considered prior to and after a hurricane.

Target Audience:
State and local emergency management personnel from areas that are at risk from hurricane hazards as the storm moves inland
How this course is offered:

Individuals can register below for class deliveries offered in Austin. A jurisdiction may request that it be conducted locally by coordinating verbally in advance with the appropriate RLO and then submit a written request to GDEM via the form here.

Prerequisites:
None, but completion of Emergency Planning (G-235) would be helpful.

Cost:
No tuition is charged.

310 Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities
DPS Training Academy
5805 North Lamar Blvd, Building C
AUSTIN, TX 78757
County: TRAVIS 5/11/2010 30

G-310 Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities Nacogdoches Library
1112 North Street
NACOGDOCHES, TX 75961
County: NACOGDOCHES 5/26/2010

USFA and NIOSH Initiate Study of Cancer among Firefighters

USFA and NIOSH Initiate Study of Cancer among Firefighters
Contact:
USFA Press Office: (301) 447-1853
Emmitsburg, MD. – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are partnering on a study to examine the potential for increased risk of cancer among firefighters due to exposures from smoke, soot, and other contaminants in the line of duty. "There is a need to have a comprehensive study of the incidence of cancer in the fire service involving objective medical and epidemiological oversight. We have lost too many firefighters from this disease," said USFA Administrator Kelvin J. Cochran. “USFA is pleased to work with NIOSH in this initiative."

This multi-year USFA supported NIOSH study will include over 18,000 current and retired career firefighters. The project will improve upon previously published firefighter studies by significantly increasing the number of individuals for whom health data will be analyzed. A larger study provides greater statistical reliability. The study will also improve on past studies by analyzing not only deaths from cancer, but also the incidence of certain cancers that have higher survival rates than others, such as testicular and prostate cancer, as well as deaths from causes other than cancer. This will improve researchers’ ability to estimate risk for various cancers and to compare risk of cancer with risks for other causes of death.

"NIOSH has worked extensively with partners in the fire service to address occupational safety and health risks for firefighters," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "We appreciate the funding and support from the U.S. Fire Administration as we engage the scientifically complex question of firefighting and cancer risk."

Firefighters are exposed to smoke, soot, and fumes from fires that contain substances classified by NIOSH as potential occupational carcinogens or by the National Toxicology Program as known human carcinogens or substances reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. These may include byproducts of combustion such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as contaminants from building products such as asbestos and formaldehyde.

This NIOSH study supported by USFA is intended to enhance current firefighter safety knowledge and inform ongoing efforts to further characterize the cancer risk associated with these exposures due to firefighting operations. During this study, researchers will establish the population of over 18,000 career firefighters from health records of both suburban and large city fire departments.

By analyzing deaths and cancer cases among those firefighters, NIOSH will attempt to determine 1) whether more cancers than expected occurred among the cohort, and 2) whether cancers are associated with exposures to the contaminants to which the firefighters may have been exposed.

NIOSH is a federal agency which conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injury, illness, and death. NIOSH’s research includes a national program to investigate fatal traumatic injuries and other causes of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters. More information about NIOSH can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh. Additional information about NIOSH’s program to investigate firefighter deaths in the line of duty, and to make recommendations for preventing such deaths, can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/.

Further information about this partnership effort may be found on the USFA Web site.

ICS 300 & 400 (HUTSON)

There will be ICS 300 and 400 courses offerd in Hudson Tx

June 14, 15, 2010 ICS 300
July 12, 13, 2010 ICS 400

Interested persons can register for these courses at www.preparingtexas.org

Jasper County ESD #1 Will have Regular Meeting.

The Commissioners of JasperEmergency District #1 will meet in regular session on Monday April 19 at 6 PM.  Location will be the Buna Sub-Courthouse.  Meeting open to public.

Robert Joe Smith Hospitalized

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Robert Joe Smith Hospitalixed

"Saturday, April 17, 2010 11:42 AM, CDT

Robert Joe (Brother of Billy Ted Smith) is in the hospital in Houston with constrictiv​e pericarditi​s (hardening of the sack around his heart).

Dr. Anderson just came by and he said that from the heart cath and the pressures within his heart we are 75% sure it's constrictive pericarditis. There are 2 more tests that will be done when he is transfered to Methodist Hospital on Monday that will give a better picture of what is going on.

He said that the thing that has to be determined is whether the risk involved with opening dad up and removing the pericardium is worth the outcome.

They will decide from the other two tests if having surgery will greatly improve his quality life (and if he'll be able to survive it) or if it would be better for him to continue with swollen legs and coughing and veins popping in his head and be able to live for 30 years longer.



The Doctor said he's only ever seen 2 cases of this in the US and maybe 3 internationally and those were many years ago and they were caused by TB.

We'll keep you updated as we know more. If you are headed to church tomorrow, please add Robert Smith to your prayer list. My mom says you need to say Robert J. Smith so that God doesn't get him confused with all the other Robert Smith's in the world."

Robert retired as a sergent with the Beaumont Police with about 30 years of service. When they moved to Brenham, he became the Emergency Management Coordinator for Washington County.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rbtsmith/mystory

Houston Fire Department's First All Female Station

Houston Fire Department's First All Female Station


Station 10 is the first Houston Fire Department station to have all-female

firefighters. Way to go ladies!
 
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=7376545

New Local Government Job Board

Local Gov Job Board Launched

Stratigic Resources recently announced their new Local Government Job Board.They have over 3,500 current jobs listed in it, from all 50 states, with approximately 400 new jobs posted each week, and a similar number being removed as the positions are filled. It is entirely free for job... seekers, and is the most comprehensive listing of local government jobs available in the nation. This board will provide assistance to those who are searching for a job. To access the SGR Job Board, go to their website at www.GovernmentResource.com. Then simply click on the Job Board tab. No registration, or sign in of any sort is required for job seekers to access the SGR Job Board.

http://www.governmentresource.com/pages/SGR_Job_Board_Main

2010 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop

The 2010 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop, the largest free public event of its kind, will take place on June 19 from 10 a.m. until 3 pm. at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The theme of the 2010 workshop will once again be Ready or Not . . . as we continue to stress that everyone must always be prepared for a major hurricane visiting our region of the Gulf Coast.

Focused on providing families with the information they need as hurricane season begins, the event has grown each year and will likely draw more then 3,000 attendees in 2010. During the workshop, an expert from the National Hurricane Center will give an update on recent improvements in hurricane forecasting and what the 2010 Hurricane Season has in store for Texas. Also, local Emergency Management experts will be on hand to explain the latest plans for hurricane preparedness along the upper Texas coast.

The popular kids’ area will once again feature interactive learning activities. The Energizer Bunny and Louie the Lightning Bug will also make appearances. Kids will learn about tropical cyclones and how to prepare for an approaching hurricane through a fun, educational experience that teaches them to respect, but not fear, these strong storms .

There will also be a number of vendors on hand displaying items related to
hurricane preparedness. Many items will also be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, such as hurricane tracking charts, tip sheets, a
comprehensive booklet on hurricanes from the National Weather Service, as well as other vendor-provided items.

The 2010 Hurricane Workshop is once again being sponsored by CenterPoint Energy, the City of Houston and the National Weather Service. Harris County Office of Emergency Management, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the Weather Museum are also active participants in making this a successful educational event. The workshop is free and open to the public. Updates on the event program and registration information can be found prior to the event at www.hurricaneworkshop.com.

911 Video For Kids

Al Simmons wrote two songs to show kids that they shouldn't be afraid of a firefighter in full gear during a fire.(My name is Shane Ferguson and I am a firefighter from Winnipeg, Canada) I told Al that when searching a burning building a lot of kids may hide when they see firefighters approaching. The sound of our(SCBA) breathing apparatus and the look of Darth Vader would scare any 4 year old. Al ran with it from that... (Check out more on our website www.stayingalive.ca )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYDY2PU3ug

SEVEN SIGNS OF TERRORISM

SEVEN SIGNS OF TERRORISM

by H. THOMAS HAYDEN on APRIL 6, 2010

All law enforcement agencies are the front line of defense against terrorism. However, terrorists are well trained and can easily spot police, Coast Guard or law enforcement patrols. Terrorists may not
know what to look for in an alert citizenry - every man, woman and youth in America.

There are Seven Signs of Terrorism:

1. Reconnaissance/surveillance: The reconnaissance cell will scout out the target and may use still cameras, video cameras, draw maps or diagrams, etc., to help get the layout of the target.
2. Elicitation: A reconnaissance cell member may go around asking unusual questions about security at a given location or ask about first responders.
3. Test of Security: The terrorist cell will test security at high value targets.
4. Logistics/gathering supplies: It takes false documents, supplies for a number of people, explosives, and special equipment to support the terrorist.
5. Suspicious people: Individuals may seem innocent enough but what they are doing may arouse suspicion.
6. Dry run or test: The terrorist will take time and test their plan. Non-government or non-official "workers" loitering around a target may arouse your suspicions. Men coming and going from a house/apartment at all hours may be suspicious.
7. Deploying assets or getting into position: Putting people in place near a target may arouse your suspicions. This may be the last chance to catch the criminals or terrorists.

Suspicious people performing any of the above activities or signs of hazardous materials in the wrong hands need to be INVESTIGATED. It is not suspicious people but SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES
that may need to be acted on by local law enforcement.

Six Fire-fighters Hurt in Rooks County Crude Oil Tank Fires - Could this have been a Boilover?

Six fire-fighters are hurt after an oil tank explosion in Rooks County. The fire happened Thursday night at the Berexco Company in Codell, which is east of Plainville. Authorities believe lightening started the fire in a tank battery holding two loads of crude oil. Fire fighters from at least six departments fought to contain the fire until five in the morning.During that time, six fire-fighters were hurt. Five were released from the Rooks County Health Center, the sixth was transported to a Wichita hospital. He's listed in fair condition. His family says he has second and third degree burns on his hands and neck. The fire also destroyed a City of Plainville brush truck and a City of Stockton pick up truck. Fire crews are still on the scene because the fire is not completely out. Authorities say there is still a mess with crude oil spilled everywhere.



See video of scene:  http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=12248215

FOXNews.com - U.S. Trains, Buses 'Vulnerable' to Terror Attack, Lieberman Warns

FOXNews.com - U.S. Trains, Buses 'Vulnerable' to Terror Attack, Lieberman Warns

Following Spring Travel Warning US Officials: Corruption Still Threatens Mexican Border Security - The Emergency Email

Following Spring Travel Warning US Officials: Corruption Still Threatens Mexican Border Security - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com

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Update on Tyler County Wildfire

KJAS Radio: "Hundreds of acres burning in Tyler County, homes evacuated

04/01/10
KFDM

Several homeowners in Tyler County have been evacuated and hundreds of acres of land burned, following a forest fire. The fire began around 3:00 p.m. Thursday between Fred and Spurger.
Several different volunteer fire departments are working with the National Park Service and the Texas Forest Service. It started on Farm to Market Road 1943 East toward State Highway 92, and has spread in all directions. So far, more than 800 acres of land has burned.

Sheriff David Hennigan tells KFDM News that at least three homes have been evacuated, including one family that deputies had to forcibly remove.
More evacuations are possible.

As of Thursday evening, the Red Cross has not made it to the scene."

Report On Wildfire In Tyler County

"Report of a Wildfire near Fred, Tyler County 040110

The State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC) received an updated report of the wildfire near Fred, Tyler County. Three homes have been evacuated. A strike team from the Big Thicket Federal Preserve, a type 2 helicopter from the US Forest Service and the Texas Department of Public Safety have also responded to the incident."

JNS Facebook Site

Become a Facebook Fan on Jasper-Newton-Sabine Emergency Management/Homeland Security.  Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buna-TX/Jasper-Newton-Sabine-Counties-Emergency-Management/110184682334320?ref=ts

Possible Severe Weather

"Confidence is high regarding the threat of severe weather across Texas and Oklahoma as a vigorous upper-level storm system approaches from the west. Abundant moisture will begin streaming into portions of eastern Texas and Oklahoma today and Thursday ahead of an approaching storm system. By mid-day Friday, a well-defined north-to-south oriented dry line is expected have pushed as far east as Wichita Falls and just east of San Angelo. The dry line will continue to push eastward during the afternoon and evening hours Friday, triggering the development of the storms.

IMPACT AREA: At present, the greatest impact zone appears to be Central and North Texas (including the DFW Metroplex), as well as southern portions of Oklahoma.


TIMING: Thunderstorms will likely form at, or just before, midday Friday along the developing dry line and spread into North Central Texas (and the DFW area) during the early evening. The storms will progress eastward across the remainder of the State during the overnight hours, when the threat for severe weather will begin to diminish.


THREAT: The greatest threat appears to be damaging straight-line winds and large hail, although the threat of tornado occurrence exists. Though widespread flash flooding is not expected, given the amount of ground moisture already present in the threat area, flash flooding is possible in heavier thunderstorms"

April ETMA Meeting

The next meeting of the East Texas Mutual Aid Association will be held on Thursday April 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM.  The host for this meeting will be the Buna Volunteer Fire Department.  The location will be at the BVFD station on Hwy 62 in Buna.

Please make every effort to attend or send someone to represent you.

For mor information contact President Billy Ted Snith or Secretary Kirbie Moss at 409-994-2543

Disaster Reservists Needed

Reservists are needed to support FEMA’s response to catastrophic disasters or incidents as defined by the Stafford Act. Deployments will be on short notice for up to 30 days or longer and will require long and/or odd hours in support of emergencies and disasters. In some cases, 12 hour shifts seven-days-a week will be expected. The size and scope of the mission will vary based on the geography, scale and magnitude of damage, type of incident, impact on the national security, and the projected number of affected individuals and households, as well as the availability of resources (housing, personnel, supplies, and materials).


Background, job descriptions, and contact information for interested candidates are included At the link below.

http://www.allhandsconsulting.com/pr08.htm

Texas Regional Highway Traffic Camera System

Click on the following link to access live traffic monitoring for Texas
Regional Cameras

Copper Theft Prevalence

Skyrocketing prices for copper have made a minor nuisance of past years into a major and costly problem today, according to "coppertheft.info." "Pipes, wires, cables, gutters, and flashing are being torn from walls and buildings."

Numerous law enforcement sources also reported that both individuals and organized criminals have targeted telecommunications, electrical substations, and railway lines, as well as wiring and piping in homes and businesses in order to steal copper sections.

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) verified that copper thefts pose electrical hazards to both the workers of the affected infrastructure and to the perpetrators themselves.

Additionally, these thefts create dangers for Emergency Services Sector personnel in the following ways:

· Exposed live electrical wires can compromise safety and operational effectiveness.

· Large-scale ramifications of losing communications and electrical power networks.

· Hazards associated with damaged rail switches and other critical components.

Because of the copper theft prevalence throughout the United States, the EMR-ISAC recognizes that first responders must proceed cautiously at any incident scene where the pilfering of this metal is suspected, alleged, or verified.

More information regarding how copper thefts threaten U.S. critical infrastructures can be seen in an FBI report on the subject.

Read more at:

http://coppertheft.info/

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/majorthefts/coppertheft_120308b.htm

Dealing with incidents involving pipelines - High Pressure Natural Gas

Here are two websites that may assist emergency responders dealing with both gas and liquid pipeline incidents.


http://www.papapipelinevideos.com/
http://pipeline.mindgrabmedia.com/main.aspx


Both of these are web based training sites with videos and interactive training modules and scenarios.

Officials Looking for Stolen Containers of Radioactive Material

News Release


March 24, 2010

Officials Looking for Stolen Containers of Radioactive Material

The Texas Department of State Health Services is looking for six small lead containers filled with a potentially dangerous radioactive material that were stolen late Friday night from a private company’s pickup truck parked outside the Walmart store in Alice.

The containers were in a clear plastic bag that was taken from a toolbox in the back of the truck. Each metal container is shrink-wrapped and contains a glass vial of ceramic granules called radioactive tracer “sand,” used in the oil and gas industry.

A person handling the containers or the sand could be at risk of radiation exposure.

DSHS officials said anyone who has information about the containers should call their local police or sheriff’s department or DSHS at (512) 458-7460.

The truck is owned by ProTechnics, a Houston-based company. The company is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the containers.

A photograph of the bag is available here: www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/images/Ir-192-Six-Pack.jpg.

-30-

(News Media Contact: Carrie Williams, Acting Press Officer, 512-458-7119.)

DSHS Press Office on Twitter

Homeland Security Advisory System

Job Opportunity

Apply here: http://tinyurl.com/ylzka23


Disaster Response Reservists: Mass Care Specialists

Job Description

Dewberry (www.dewberry.com) is augmenting its existing cadre of

part-time and intermittent staff to perform work for FEMA following

disaster incidents. Dewberry has supported FEMA for over 25 years on

disaster response and recovery assignments, and our contracts now

include supporting FEMA's mass care/ emergency assistance programs. We

require experienced individuals with a variety of skills and technical

capabilities. All positions are intermittent (part-time), on-call

(travel and field work required).

Must be able to pass an FBI Background Clearance check. Conditions in

the areas affected can be very challenging. While the work is arduous,

it is also very rewarding.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

> Willing to work long and/or odd hours in support of emergencies and

disasters.

> Deployable on short notice for up to 30 days or longer, in response to

domestic disaster incidents.

> Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

> Experienced in disaster relief work mass care sheltering and/or

feeding, including specific experience as shelter manager/ assistant

manager/ shift supervisor; feeding manager/ supervisor; bulk supply

distribution manager, or logistical support of these activities.



> Completion of FEMA Independent Study classes IS 100, 200, 700a, 800b,

26, 288, 701, 806. Otherwise candidate must complete within 30 days of

hire. Other related independent study/ training may be required.

> Must be able to effectively manage multiple priorities under extreme

pressure in a highly stressful environment.

> Able to work independently with little supervision, but also work well

as part of a cohesive team

> Able to focus on details while handling multiple tasks independently

> Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.

> Excellent written and oral communication skills.

> Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office including Outlook,

Excel, Word. SharePoint experience a plus.

> Job Location: nationwide (depends upon location of disaster incident)

> Position Type: reservist, on-call (deployed typically 30 - 60 days)

Apply here: http://tinyurl.com/ylzka23
_______________________________________________________
John Burnap
Director, Readiness Operations Unit, PaTH LLC, IA-TAC III
Catastrophic incident response support for FEMA Regions VIII, IX, X
Senior Project Manager, DynCorp International
703.462.7132 desk
571.314.5148 bberry
John.Burnap@... mailto:John.Burnap@...
www.LinkedIn.com/in/johnburnap

Disaster Tip of the Week: Start and Keep a Go Bag Ready At All Times

Monday

22Mar2010

Disaster Tip of the Week: Start and Keep a Go Bag Ready At All Times

Monday, March 22, 2010 at 5:00AM

First let me start off by saying that your Go-Bag or Bug-Out Bag should not be your only, or main source in a survival situation. You should have other supplies ready to keep you and your family sustained for an extended period of time.

The idea of a Go-Bag or Bug-Out Bag is to have supplies ready at a moments notice should you have to leave or evacuate from your home, or other location. These supplies should be packed ahead of time and hopefully placed into a backpack so it is comfortable to carry since you may be traveling a long distance.

In most cases you would not have time to gather the supplies needed during an evacuation, so it is best to have them ready to go at all times. I see many people intending to use a go-Bag as their main source for survival if everything goes south. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep your go-Bag separate from your regular supplies.

In addition, every member of your family, or party if you have one should have their own bag. Even children should have their own bags so long as they can carry one. We'll discuss go-Bags for kids at another time.

Now that we have covered the true purpose of a go-Bag lets discuss what you should put in it. First the bag should be a good solid bag, preferably as mentioned earlier a backpack. If you have to leave on foot, or become stranded a backpack is the easiest bag to carry.

What should you put into your bag? While many people argue about what items and brands are best to carry, we are just going to stick with the basics.

Here is a basic list of items you will want to consider including in your go-Bag:

Cash - plenty of it because depending on the event credit cards may not be useful. Consider having about $500 in ones (the more the better, and try to make them all singles), that way you never need change. A couple of quarter rolls could come in handy for Public phones, vending machines and laundry. Do not "flash" it around, unless you like being robbed, even assaulted, i.e. mugged. I suggest carrying different amounts in various pockets and keeping several "Throw Away Bills" in case you do get mugged, throw that onto the ground so you can make a fast get away.

First Aid Kit - a decent well-stocked kit, including a couple of weeks' supply of any prescription medications you need.

Sewing Kit. Include in this non-waxed floss and a U-shaped leather needle. Include extra needles, thread, buttons and if you can, fabric.

Clothing - Wool is best as cotton is useless once it gets wet; add thermal wear, underwear, sock and carry extras of everything.

Crank style Flashlight and glow-sticks.

Crank style NOAA weather/AM-FM Radio. If you use one that takes batteries, carry extras.

Food and water -- Carry enough to get you where you want to go plus extra.

Lighter, waterproof matches and another source such as a strike based fire starter. Always best to carry extras here as well.

Hand and feet warmers -- 2 per person if you can.

Good sleeping bag -- can double as a blanket at a shelter.

Good air matress if you can.

Wool blanket, not a must if you have a sleeping bag, but great to have.

Emergency Mylar Space blankets.

Good rain poncho -- one that covers you and your bag is best.

Rope -- Carry several, great for many things, from shelter, to rescue.

Duct Tape.

Tarp -- can double as emergency shelter if you don't have a tent.

Dust Masks carry several per person.

Maps -- local and the location where you want to go.

leather work gloves.

Folding saw.

Hatchet.

Multi-tool.

2 knives.

Toiletries.

compass/GPS (good to carry 2 compasses if just for reassurance).

Gun and ammo if possible.

Fishing hooks, and fishing wire, a couple of sinkers and floats ill be good too.

Important documents, license, passport, etc.

pen and paper.

This is a great list to get started with and you will have to make adjustments based on what type of load you can carry, and how far you are traveling.

What are some items that you keep in your go-Bag?

Texas Emergency Services District Law

Texas Emergency Services District Law

National Hurricane Center Changes For 2010

Changes to NHC Products for 2010

Mexico Travel Warnings

Mexico

Emergency Management Twitter Site

You can now follow activities regarding Jasper/Newton/Sabine Counties Emergency Management and other prepardness information on our new "Twitter" site at http://www.twitter.com/jaspercounty

DangerousGoods : Message: USA, TN, DONELSON - Tanker Explodes at Donelson Gas Station

DangerousGoods : Message: USA, TN, DONELSON - Tanker Explodes at Donelson Gas Station

Texas Wildfire Academies

Texas Wildfire Academies

March Meeting of ETMA

The next meeting of the East Texas Mutual Aid Association will be held at the Methodist Community Center on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. This months meeting is being hosted by Newton V.F.D. We encourage all Fire Chiefs of V.F.D’s and department heads to be in attendance We hope you can make plans to attend. If you are unable to join us, we extend the invitation to anyone representing you or your organization.

Olen Bean has just returned from Haiti and will be giving a presentation on his tour for the Texas Baptist Men's Association relief efforts.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Jasper County E.M. Billy Ted Smith at (409) 994-2543 or Kirbie Moss at 409-504-9047 .This includes any requests for department head updates or changes/additions to contact information. Hope to see you there.

                               Billy Ted Smith -  President, ETMA

Texas task force one - KHOU reporter Jeremy Desel

Reminder From Fugate: No Self-Deployment to Haiti

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate asked us to provide this message to all State Directors. Please pass along to all your operations staff, local EM agencies and other response entities as appropriate.
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Message from FEMA Administrator:

Initial reports from Haiti in the wake of yesterday's earthquake are concerning and troubling. During times like these, the emergency response community always stands ready to assist those in need.
On behalf of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, I'd like to remind our response community that assets should not self deploy to affected areas. The United States Department of State has the lead for foreign
disaster assistance, and US assets should deploy only if tasked to do so by the State Department. The most urgent need that the response community can fulfill at this time is supporting ongoing disaster relief
fundraising efforts.

We will continue to update guidance as the situation unfolds. Thank you for your support.