Lt. Gen. Honoré to Deliver Keynote at Gov. Conference on Emergency Management & Homeland Security Milwaukee – March 11 – 12, 2015

(Madison) – Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who led recovery efforts following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, will be the keynote speaker at the 48th Annual Governor’s Conference on Emergency Management and Homeland Security. As the nation approaches the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Honoré will not only discuss lessons learned but why communities need to commit to preparedness before the next storm.
Honoré will be one of several speakers presenting at the conference that will be held March 11-12, 2015 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. More than 500 people from fire, law enforcement, emergency management, and other first responder agencies are expected to attend this year’s event.
Some of the other presenters include:

• Howard Price of ABC Television will discuss the importance of not only broadcast media to be prepared to respond to major storms and keep the public informed but also businesses.
• Timothy Gablehouse of Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership, Inc., will focus on the emergency planning for hazardous materials accidents including highlighting the emergency response and community right-to-know programs.
• Local emergency responders from Platteville and Grant County, as well as Verona and Dane County, will provide an overview of the response to the June 16, 2014 tornadoes that damaged the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus and County View School in Verona.

The agenda for the conference is available online. Registration is now open for both the conference and pre-conference training. For more information, go to http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov

Gov. Conference Press Release

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8, 2015

(MADISON) – Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday as we “spring forward’ and set clocks ahead one hour. Daylight Saving Time is also a great time to check the things that keep us safe and ready for emergencies. ReadyWisconsin urges you to check these items:

• Smoke Detectors- Nearly 2,700 people die and more than 15,000 are injured each year because of fires that started in their homes. Now is the time to check and replace batteries if needed and make sure the devices around your house are working properly. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that about 16 million homes in the country have smoke alarms that do not work. In most cases, the batteries are dead or missing. This is a great time to put fresh batteries in your smoke detector. You should also replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8 to 10 years.
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors- Just last month, 30 people were checked and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning when the gas filled a Park Falls movie theater. In December, several people became ill in a Wisconsin Dells ice arena due to a malfunctioning ice resurface machine. According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States with more than 200 killed each year from overexposure to the gas. Never use gas or charcoal grills inside your home or an unventilated garage. Make sure you have CO Detectors and they are working. Now is also a good time to check and replace batteries in those units.
• Emergency Kits- Daylight Savings Time is a perfect time to get a kit and if you already have a kit, check to make sure food and other items are not near or past their expiration dates. You should have supplies to last you and your family for at least three days. Other items like a battery powered or crank radio, flashlights, first aid kit should also be included.
• Emergency NOAA Weather Radio- Spring brings the threat of tornadoes and severe weather. Make sure you have an emergency weather radio. It’s like having a tornado siren in your home. When it goes off, go to a safe place. Listen, Act and Live!

For more tips on how to prepare you and your family, please go to our website: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. You’ll find great information on how to get a kit and make a plan when disaster strikes.

View information as a PDF – Spring_Forward

If you are like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning done today.
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an animal emergency supply kit and develop-ing a pet care buddy system, are the same for any emergency.
Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets. Keep in mind that what’s best for you is typically what’s best for your animals.

Find more information about a Disaster Supply Kit and Evacuation suggestions.  Emergency Preparedness for Pets
For more information on emergency preparedness, please visit this website at http://Ready.wi.gov.