Are you ready for the winter season? Follow the link to Ready.gov for more information on how to prepare your family for winter weather related emergencies.
http://www.readyvirginia.gov/
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/plan.shtm
Winter Basics
Watches and Warnings
When severe winter weather threatens your area, it’s essential that you listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated information. Make sure you are familiar with the various winter-related watches and warnings.
- Winter Weather Advisory: Declared when winter weather conditions are expected to cause difficulty and might be dangerous. With caution, these situations should not become life-threatening.
- Winter Storm Watch: Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow or ice, are possible within the next day or two. Prepare now.
- Winter Storm Warning: Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in your area. Stay indoors.
- Blizzard Warning: Snow and strong winds will combine to produce blinding snow with near zero visibility, deep drifts and life-threatening wind chill. Seek shelter immediately.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter Supplies
For the Home
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs and those of each family member for three to five days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffel bags or covered trash containers.
Here's what to include:
- Three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil. Include a manual can opener.
- One change of clothing and footwear and one blanket or sleeping bag per person. A first aid kit that includes your family's prescriptions and medications. Include contacts or an extra pair of glasses.
- Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlights and plenty of extra batteries.
- An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash (small denominations) or traveler's checks.
- Sanitation supplies including toilet paper, soap, plastic garbage bags and disinfectant.
- Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
- Important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep the originals of all important financial and family documents in a safe place. You will need accessible records for tax and insurance purposes.
Ask one person to be responsible for replacing water every three months and food every six months. Batteries should also be replaced on a regular basis. Tape the call letters and frequency numbers of your emergency alert radio stations (EAS) on the radio and make sure everyone knows how to work the radio and put in fresh batteries. Also, tape the channel number of the television emergency broadcast stations on your TV.
The Virginia Community College System along with all public Institutions of higher education are required by legislation to have the following:
§ 23-9.2:9. Institutional crisis and emergency management plan; review required.
The board of visitors or other governing body of each public institution of higher education shall develop, adopt, and keep current a written crisis and emergency management plan. The plan shall include a provision that the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be contacted immediately to deploy assistance in the event of an emergency as defined in the emergency response plan when there are victims as defined in § 19.2-11.01, as well as current contact information for both.
Every four years, each institution shall conduct a comprehensive review and revision of its crisis and emergency management plan to ensure the plan remains current, and the revised plan shall be adopted formally by the board of visitors or other governing body. Such review shall also be certified in writing to the Department of Emergency Management. The institution shall coordinate with the local emergency management organization, as defined by § 44-146.16, to ensure integration into the local emergency operations plan.
(2008, cc. 450, 526; 2009, cc. 222, 269.)
§ 23-9.2:10. Violence prevention committee; threat assessment team.
A. Each public college or university shall have in place policies and procedures for the prevention of violence on campus, including assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the campus community.
B. The board of visitors or other governing body of each public institution of higher education shall determine a committee structure on campus of individuals charged with education and prevention of violence on campus. Each committee shall include representatives from student affairs, law enforcement, human resources, counseling services, residence life, and other constituencies as needed. Such committee shall also consult with legal counsel as needed. Once formed, each committee shall develop a clear statement of: (i) mission, (ii) membership, and (iii) leadership. Such statement shall be published and available to the campus community.
C. Each committee shall be charged with: (i) providing guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community; (ii) identification of members of the campus community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and (iii) policies and procedures for the assessment of individuals whose behavior may present a threat, appropriate means of intervention with such individuals, and sufficient means of action, including interim suspension or medical separation to resolve potential threats.
D. The board of visitors or other governing body of each public institution of higher education shall establish a specific threat assessment team that shall include members from law enforcement, mental health professionals, representatives of student affairs and human resources, and, if available, college or university counsel. Such team shall implement the assessment, intervention and action policies set forth by the committee pursuant to subsection C.
E. Each threat assessment team shall establish relationships or utilize existing relationships with local and state law enforcement agencies as well as mental health agencies to expedite assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior may present a threat to safety.
(2008, cc. 450, 533.)