State of Utah

GARY R. HERBERT
Governor

GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor

Department of Public Safety

D. LANCE DAVENPORT
Commissioner

COLONEL KEITH D. SQUIRES
Deputy Commissioner

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Contact: Joe Dougherty, PIO
Utah Division of Emergency Management
801-664-1530
jdougherty@utah.gov

Plenty to cover during Great Utah ShakeOut

SALT LAKE CITY --With less than one week to go until the Great Utah ShakeOut, the state's only statewide earthquake drill, the Utah Division of Emergency Management is pleased to share a list of the various venues where emergency drills and activities will be taking place.

Currently, nearly 830,000 Utahns are planning to participate in the drill, happening April 17 at 10:15 a.m. See the full participant list here: PARTICIPANT LIST.Organizations, including the Utah Division of Emergency Managment will hold an extra emergency exercise on April 18. 

This is the second annual ShakeOut. In 2012, Utah had the largest per capita participation ShakeOut in the world with 33 percent of the state's population, or 945,000 Utahns. When we prepare together, we'll survive together.

Various social media channels can be used to share the ShakeOut.

• Twitter: Follow @UtahShakeOut and @BeReadyUtah
  
• Hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest: #ShakeOut
• Facebook.com/UtahShakeOut
• Tumblr.com/UtahShakeOut -- The public can submit their own photos to be posted here
  

Preparedness videos on YouTube, Vimeo or Viddler

• An invitation from Gov. Gary Herbert
• Utah: Preparedness Now
• Be Ready Utah -- Make a Kit

Members of the news media and their stations or offices should also assess their organization's preparedness. You can help the public by playing a broadcast of the ShakeOut drill, which you can download, along with transcripts here: http://www.shakeout.org/utah/drill/broadcast/

The following list will be updated and available online here: https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2515/1365431/  and at EmergencyInfoUtah.com.

If you have a venue to add to this list, please reply to this email or email Joe Dougherty.

Great Utah ShakeOut activities

Saturday, April 13

Utah Prepare Conference and Expo: 

Where: South Towne Expo Center
Website: UtahPrepare.com
What: Preparedness demonstrations, products and presentations on all facets of emergency preparedness
Contact:
Teresa Hunsaker, Utah State University,  801-510-2870
Ryan Longman, Be Ready Utah, 801-842-1413

Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s, Lin’s and Fresh Market: 

Where: Wasatch Front stores
When: Through April 18
What: The above Associated Foods stores around the Wasatch Front will provide ShakeOut and earthquake information to patrons during the week leading up to the ShakeOut. Each store will have a booth and will play a recording from Governor Herbert, over the public address system, encouraging Utahns to get prepared for earthquakes.
Contact: Kris Romeril: 801-978-8450

Tuesday, April 16

KUED

What: KUED will air "Preparing for Disasters: Starting Now." Find out how to help your family get ready for disaster by making emergency plans and kits. It will be followed by "Next Steps: Utah Prepares for Disaster," a half hour show with a panel of local experts.
When: 7 p.m.
Link: http://KUED.org/disaster

Wednesday, April 17

State Capitol Campus:

Where: 350 N. Main Street, Utah State Capitol
When: 10:15-11 a.m.
What: About 1,000 state employees on the Capitol campus will drop, cover and hold on while alarms sound, signaling the start of the ShakeOut. All employees will evacuate office buildings and await the all clear signal while the buildings are inspected.
Contact: Joe Dougherty, 801-664-1530, jdougherty@utah.gov

Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, Rio Grande Building

Where: 300 South Rio Grande Street
What: We will be conducting a duck-and-cover, followed by a building evacuation.
When: 10:15 a.m.
Contact: Geoff Fattah, 801-386-4755

University of Utah:

Where: 201 Presidents Circle, SLC, UT 84112
When: 10:15am – 11:00am
What: http://emergencymanagement.utah.edu/shakeout/schedule

• Test of University Emergency Alert System – signaling start of drill.
• All University faculty, staff and students to practice “Drop, Cover, Hold On” (10:15am).
• All University faculty, staff and students to evacuate all buildings on campus and move to pre-identified Emergency Assembly Points (EAPs)  (10:20am)
• Personnel from Military Sciences will set up a medical triage tent in the parking lot adjacent to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
• The David Eccles School of Business will drill their College Emergency Response Team in the Business Parking lot

Contact:  
Keith Sterling, keith.sterling@utah.edu 801.581.5180
Marty Shaub, marty.shaub@ehs.utah.edu 801.585.9311

Seismological Society of America Annual Meeting:

What: Utah Earthquakes and You, a free town hall meeting for the public
Abstract and Link: http://www.seismosoc.org/meetings/2013/townhall.php Much has been learned about the earthquake threat and vulnerability in Utah. We know where earthquakes are likely to occur and what they can do. We know how to reduce losses from large earthquakes but we have not done enough to prepare for the next large Utah event. The purpose of this Town Hall Meeting is to help you prepare yourself, your family, your friends, and your community to survive the Big One.
Where: Radisson Hotel, Wasatch Ballroom, 215 W. South Temple
When: 7:30 - 9 p.m.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Questar Gas:

Where: Corporate Office on 333 S. State Street, Salt Lake City
What: Conducting drop, cover and hold on exercises in our corporate office at 10:15 a.m., and our outer offices will do similar things.
They are also using the day to train all employees on hands-only CPR at 1:30 p.m.. The company also sent this notice about emergency preparedness to their customers.
Contact: Darren Shepherd, (801) 324-5167

Rocky Mountain Power:

Where: North Temple Office, 1407 W. North Temple.
What: We will discuss our mutual aid agreements relating to major disasters and how that is part of our preparations. We will have a map there to help illustrate this portion of our emergency planning.
Contact: Margaret Oler, 801-220-2592, or the News Media Hotline at 800-775-7950.

SCHOOLS
Various school districts will be holding earthquake drills. The following have said news media may attend. Contact other districts in your area to see about observing a drill.

Jordan School District
School: Heartland Elementary, at 1451 W. 7000 South in West Jordan
What: Two classrooms available to choose from, one with,  sixth-grade students and one with kindergarten students, the media can set up in either one. We will also have parking for live trucks etc. in the back of the school near an entrance, with a short cable run for those who choose to do live shots.
Contact: Sandy Riesgraf, (801) 567-8290 work,  (801) 503-7018 cell

MUNICIPALITIES

Park City Municipal Corporation:

Where: 445 Marsac Avenue and 1055 Iron Horse Drive primary locations for staffing. EOC is 2060 Park Avenue (Park City Police Department)
When: Begins with the drop, cover and hold at 10:15 a.m. and continues until about 2p
What: A call to report to the EOC for setup and staffing will be issued. The EOC will be operational from about 10:15 – 2p. Park City Fire District will participate with us. There will be a mock press conference for City Council and injects throughout the EOC time period. Planning and Building will be doing Rapid Assessments in town. Public Works will be testing the generator for refueling. Sustainability staff (logistics) will be contacting resource providers to confirm information.
Contact :Phyllis Robinson, Public Affairs Manager, 435-615-5189 (office), 435-901-0266 (mobile)

Salt Lake City:

What: First night of Schools Aid Families in Emergencies (S.A.F.E.) Neighborhood trainings, a partnership of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City School District and the American Red Cross Utah Region
Where: Ensign Elementary, 775 12th Avenue, Salt Lake City
When: 6 p.m.
Contact: Art Raymond, 801-535-7971

Sandy:

Where:10000 Centennial Parkway, Sandy
What: Drop, cover and hold on drill for city employees at 10:15 a.m., EOC exercise from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Contact: Nicole Martin, 801-369-3137

Sanpete County:

Where: Countywide
What: Sounding emergency sirens
When: 9 a.m.

Taylorsville:

What: City employee emergency exercise
Where: Taylorsville City Hall, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd
When: Betwen 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for emergency operations center exercise, between 2 and 3 p.m. for Medical Reserve Corps and Volunteer Coordination Team in action.
Contact: Aimee Newton, 801-808-5103

West Jordan:

Where: Fire Station #53, 7602 S. Jordan Landing Blvd. 
What: Tabletop exercise  in the city emergency operations center with senior leadership.
Contact: Kim Wells, 801-569-5163

Thursday, April 18

Utah Division of Emergency Management:

Where: State Emergency Operations Center
What: The state EOC, State Emergency Response Team, Joint Information Center and DEM staff will be activated during a six-hour exercise, receiving simulated events and responding to them. The State Emergency Response Team consists of State agency employees who are authorized to accept missions and tasks during a disaster. These events will happen in secure areas of the buildings and require an escort.
Contact: Joe Dougherty, Utah DEM, 801-664-1530, jdougherty@utah.gov

Cottonwood Heights and American Red Cross:

Where:7500 S. 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center
What: Shelter drill with the American Red Cross.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact:
Stephanie Archibald, 801-652-9501
Teresa Zundel, 801-707-7535

Salt Lake City:

What: Second training of Schools Aid Families in Emergencies (S.A.F.E.), a partnership of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City School District and the American Red Cross Utah Region
Where: Highland Park Elementary, 1738 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City
When: 6 p.m.
Contact: Art Raymond, 801-535-7971

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State of Utah

GARY R. HERBERT
Governor

GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor

Department of Public Safety

D. LANCE DAVENPORT
Commissioner

MEDIA ADVISORY

March 5, 2013
Contact information below

Utah Is a Force of Nature and You Can be, Too

The Utah Division of Emergency Management, Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and National Weather Service in Salt Lake City are proud to promote National Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 3-9, 2013. During this week we are asking our employees and members of the community to Be a Force of Nature and better prepare for severe weather threats in our area.

After a devastating fire season across the Intermountain West in 2012, it's fitting for these agencies to focus on fire weather preparedness for 2013.

As committed leaders for weather-readiness, the three agencies will make preparedness experts available to the media to help Utahns learn how they can be a Force of Nature by knowing their risks, taking action and being an example.

• Jason Curry, spokesman for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, is available to speak about Wildland Urban Interface, Community Wildfire Protection Plans and fire weather, specifically Red Flag Warnings and what they mean in terms of weather and risk.
• Kevin Barjenbruch or Christine Kruse from the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Salt Lake City, will be available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to discuss weather forecasting and weather terms.
• Joe Dougherty and Ryan Longman, from the Division of Emergency Management and Be Ready Utah, can discuss preparedness, evacuations, planning and grab-and-go kits to help Utahns get ready for emergencies.

The three agencies will also promote preparedness on their websites and through social media.

Watch:

BeReadyUtah.gov, Weather.gov, Forestry.Utah.gov

@BeReadyUtah, @NWSSaltLakeCity and @UtahWildfire

Each year, individuals are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries. Severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual.

These statistics, from 2012, show how wildfires have a significant impact across the country:

• 11 firefighters lost their lives
• 67,774 wildfires burned 9.3 million acres
• 4,244 structures were destroyed, including 2,216 residences

As weather becomes more extreme across the nation, so does the threat of fire.

Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort to increase awareness of severe weather and to motivate individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of severe weather.

Utahns are encouraged to know their risks, take action and be an example to others.

More information and ideas on how you can Be a Force of Nature can be found at Ready.gov/severe-weather. Information on the different types of severe weather such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding is available at www.weather.gov and ready.gov/severe-weather or the Spanish-language web site www.listo.gov.

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Contact information:

Jason Curry
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
jasoncurry@utah.gov
801-538-7302

Christine Kruse
National Weather Service, Salt Lake City
christine.kruse@noaa.gov
801-524-4378

Joe Dougherty
Utah Division of Emergency Management
jdougherty@utah.gov
801-538-3738

State of Utah

GARY R. HERBERT
Governor

GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor

Department of Public Safety

D. LANCE DAVENPORT
Commissioner

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release
Nov. 12, 2012

Contact: Joe Dougherty, PIO
Utah Division of Emergency Management
jdougherty@utah.gov
801-664-1530

Utah responds to Hurricane Sandy recovery in New York

SALT LAKE CITY -- Three State of Utah employees requested by one of the hurricane-ravaged states on the Atlantic Coast touched down Sunday, ready to help in the New York State emergency operations center in Albany

Sheila Curtis, Mike Stever and JoAnna Larsen arrived in New York on Sunday following an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request for employees to support logistics work for donations management for the next two weeks. 

Curtis is an operations planner with the Division of Emergency Management. Stever is the emergency manager for the Department of Health, and Larsen is the emergency planner for the Department of Health.

"Disaster provides opportunity for people to help people, across boundaries and even state lines," said Governor Gary R. Herbert. "True to Utah's spirit of volunteerism, these great state employees are stepping up to join the relief effort and we commend them for their skills and willingness to help their fellow human beings in an hour of need."

"These are three cream-of-the-crop emergency managers with a strong record of training and service in Utah," said Keith D. Squires, director of the Utah Division of Emergency Management. "They will put those skills to very good use. We are grateful to the Department of Health for sparing two essential employees to help with this effort."

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, is the agreement among the states to provide mutual aid in emergencies. Following Hurricane Irene in 2011, Utah responded to an EMAC request from the State of New York by sending three employees.

In Utah, the Division of Emergency Management facilitates EMAC requests.

If a disaster were to strike Utah, EMAC would be one of the critical tools the state would use to seek help from the other states. Requests are as varied as the needs that a state may have. Requests for support from the states affected by Hurricane Sandy have been for logistics and shelter support, fuel and electric utility repair support. Other potential requests include emergency responders, emergency operations center support, administrative support or public information.

When a state submits a need through EMAC, the request goes to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

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