Town of Wallingford to Participate in a Two-day Statewide Emergency Preparedness Drill

Town of Wallingford to Participate in a Two-day Statewide Emergency Preparedness Drill; as posted on the town website via http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/Alert/alertView.asp?alertID=5

 

 



Alert

Posted on: 6/20/2013 at 9:22:53 AM
Last Updated on: 6/20/2013 at 9:44:33 AM

As part of the exercise, the Town of Wallingford will activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC will be staffed by Wallingford government leaders and local emergency managers.

WALLINGFORD

C O N N E C T I C U T

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Town of Wallingford’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Lt. Marc Mikulski

Wallingford Police Department

135 North Main Street

Wallingford, CT 06492

Office: (203)-294-2850

Communications: (203) 294-2800

Emergency: 9-1-1

June 20, 2013 @ 9:00 a.m.

Town of Wallingford to Participate in a Two-day Statewide Emergency Preparedness Drill

(Wallingford, CT) On June 20^th and 21^st, the town of Wallingford will be participating in a two-day statewide emergency preparedness drill coordinated by the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). The drill is designed to simulate a major ice storm in the western part of the state and the subsequent trickle down affects that it may have on state and individual community’s resources.

The main goal of this exercise is to improve communication between the state’s utility companies and state and local governments during emergencies and to test the state’s mutual aid system.

As part of the exercise, the Town of Wallingford will activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC will be staffed by Wallingford government leaders and local emergency managers. The exercise will give officials the opportunity to participate in the statewide drill as well as review local emergency operations plans, resources, and unified responses to local emergencies.

The exercise is part of Governor Malloy’s ongoing Emergency Preparedness and Planning Initiative (EPPI), which began in 2011.

Overall goals of the exercise include:

• Improving Communications for Road Clearing & Utility Restoration: Utility company crews will be working with certain towns to exercise the “Make Safe” protocol that will enhance road clearance processes and communication.
• Activating Local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and Convening Unified Command: All participating municipalities and Tribal Nations will have key local officials and leaders meet at their local EOC to simulate preparedness, response, and recovery planning.
• Establishing Coordinated Emergency Shelters: Certain municipalities will exercise regional shelters in coordination with the Red Cross.
• Regional Emergency Support Plans: Each DEMHS Region will be reviewing their Regional Emergency Support Plans and implementing them as needed during the exercise, with particular focus being given to: Transportation, Logistics, Hospital Surge Capacity, and Communications.

Materials related to the exercise and the Governor’s Emergency Planning and Preparedness Initiative can be found at www.ct.gov/demhs.