News and Events 

          March, 2008         

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Welcome to the Volusia County Citizen Corps Newsletter

The Volusia County Citizen Corps will be keeping the citizens of Volusia County, Florida, informed of news and events of interest to the Citizen Corps community:

       Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

       Fire Corps

       Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs) and Citizen Police

       Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

       Neighborhood Watch

       And Affiliated Programs

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Medical Reserve Corps

The Volusia County Medical Reserve Corps Unit is now registered.  Check out the MRC Web site:

(www.medicalreservecorps.gov).  Contact Vincent Soto at the Volusia County Health Department,

386-736-5436, vincent_soto@doh.state.fl.us

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First Volusia County Ready Camp

Volusia County’s first Ready Camp will be held June 24 -27 at the Volusia County Fire Training Center.  High School students from Volusia County will be trained in

• Emergency Preparedness

• the Student Emergency Response Team organization (and Incident Command System)

• Fire Safety

• Emergency Medical Operations (first aid, CPR and AED skills)

• Light Search and Rescue

• Emotional Effects

• Emergency Response to Terrorism.

Flyers will be sent to the county’s high schools shortly.  Please contact Perry Revlett ATCLAT, Pine Ridge High School, 926 Howland Blvd, Deltona FL 32738, 386-848-6780 to register a student. 

2007 Outstanding Volunteers of the Year

The “Outstanding Volunteers of the Year” Awards Luncheon is Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 11:30 to 1:30, at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.  This event, in conjunction with National Volunteer Week and Florida Volunteers Month, will honor the finalists and winners for their incredible contributions to our community during 2007.   Thank you and congratulations to our fantastic Citizen Corps volunteer nominees!!

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Ready Night with the Daytona Cubs – May 31

Volusia County Citizen Corps, Volusia County Division of Emergency Management, and the Daytona Cubs Minor League Baseball Team are partnering to host Ready Night, on Saturday night, May 31 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. 

Citizen Corps organizations (CERT, COPs/VIPs, MRC, Neighborhood Watch, Fire Explorers, RACES, and others) are invited to participate by having exhibits and materials to share with the fans during the game.  There will be preparedness games for children, public service announcements, and a raffle for “go kits” to launch the 2008 Hurricane Season. 

If your organization would like to participate, please contact Connie Van Brocklin at cvanbrocklin@unitedwayvfc.org or 386-253-0563 x249. 

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United Way – United in Disaster

Working under Volusia County Emergency Management Services, United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (The Volunteer Center and 2-1-1) is the now the Lead Agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF) 15’s coordination of Volunteers in response to a disaster. The purpose of this function is to define the local procedures to manage and coordinate the receipt and delivery of volunteer personnel and services before, during and after a disaster.

As the lead agency for ESF-15, United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties will:

1.       Identify those agencies/organizations which have support roles in volunteers.

2.       Identify duties and responsibilities of the lead and each supporting agency.

3.       Identify resources within the community for response and recovery.

4.       Describe how missions and resources will be coordinated between lead and support agencies.

5.       Provide the reference location of inventory of personnel, data, equipment and vehicles that will be used for volunteers.

6.       Identify any planning assumptions that were considered in the development of the volunteer’s function. (i.e. capability limitations, resource shortfalls, use of mutual aid/outside resources and personnel, etc.).

7.       Identify and describe the pre-positioning or staging of volunteer resources.

Contacts to remember: United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties: 2-1-1 or 386-253-0563

• Tim Sylvia, First Call For Help/2-1-1 Director, ext. 228, tsylvia@unitedwayvfc.org

• Laura Zublionis, Volunteer Center Director, ext. 239, Lzublionis@unitedwayvfc.org

• Connie VanBrocklin, Volusia Citizen Corps Coord., ext. 249, cvanbrocklin@unitedwayvfc.org

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Fire Corps and Firewise Communities Program Releases Firewise Toolkit

Tuesday January 15th, 2008

Fire Corps and the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities program partnered to develop a Firewise toolkit. Getting Started With Firewise provides information about building and maintaining communities in a way that is compatible with our natural surroundings and can be used by Fire Corps teams across the nation to help protect property and natural resources from the threat of wildland fires. The toolkit can be ordered free-of-charge from the Fire Corps national office at 1-888-FC-INFO1 (324-6361) or info@firecorps.org.

The national Firewise Communities program is a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire. The program emphasizes community responsibility for planning and design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance.

Learn more about the Firewise Communities program and Fire Corps.

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Federal Disaster Officials Offer Tips To Speed Assistance

Release Date: February 19, 2008
FEMA Release Number: 1745-006

•  Apply as soon as possible. Homeowners, renters, and business owners who suffered losses must call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tele-registration line to apply for assistance at (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or TTY (800) 462-7585, or go online at www.fema.gov.

•  Apply, even if you are insured. Your insurance coverage may not be adequate and some foundation damage may not show up until later. Anyone who suffered any damage or loss should apply for assistance.

• Remember, disaster assistance covers a wide range of losses. Disaster-related damage or loss of essential personal property, anything from a wheelchair to a major appliance, may qualify for some form of federal/state assistance.

•  Stay in touch and keep appointments. After you have applied for disaster assistance, a FEMA inspector will make an appointment to visit your home, usually within two to three days. Make every effort to be at home or call to change the appointment by using the FEMA tele-registration line at (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or TTY (800) 462-7585.

• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Federal and State officials are available to meet with residents of the designated counties, Benton, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Macon, Madison, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Sumner, Trousdale and Williamson.

• Return all forms promptly. After applying, you may receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loan application package in the mail. Fill out and return these forms promptly since they are an essential part of the disaster-assistance process.

•  Rebuild with disaster prevention in mind. If you receive an emergency housing repair grant from FEMA, a follow-up letter will arrive after you receive your check. That letter will identify the purpose of the grant and will highlight the need to make repairs that will lessen the risks of future losses.

What to Expect After Applying

If you are deemed eligible for disaster assistance, you will receive a letter from FEMA providing guidance on your disaster relief grant.

FEMA disaster assistance is not intended to restore you to your pre-disaster condition. It is to help you get safe and sanitary housing and meet your other critical needs so you can begin your long-term recovery. The SBA offers low-interest federal disaster loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.

You can call the tele-registration line for answers to your questions about federal assistance. If you are not satisfied with FEMA's decision on your application, you can file an appeal in writing to the address listed in the letter you receive. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the FEMA letter.

Before starting any repairs or reconstruction, check with local building officials on what permits and inspections might be needed. If you were displaced from your home and incurred hotel or motel expenses, save those receipts and check with FEMA on how you might be reimbursed.

File your insurance claim as soon as possible. Failure to file within 12 months can affect your eligibility for FEMA assistance. Call FEMA if your insurance settlement is delayed, if it does not cover your loss, or if your additional living expense benefit is exhausted.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

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National Poison Prevention Week:  March 16-22, 2008

Poison Tips of the Day

The Florida/USVI Poison Information Center-Jacksonville

Sunday, March 16 - Pesticides

Although pesticides are thought to be beneficial to society, they can be dangerous if used carelessly or if not stored properly. According to data collected by the Florida Poison Information Centers, in 2007 alone, an estimated 6,200 persons were involved in common household pesticide-related poisonings or exposures in Florida, with children being the number one victim. These involved the accidental swallowing of the pesticide by children, or getting it in the eye, on the skin, or in the lungs during its application and use. Teach children that pesticides are poisonous and something that they should not touch; always store pesticides away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or secured garden shed. When applying or using pesticides, follow the directions for use and take appropriate precautions to protect you and your family from accidental exposure, and keep the toll free national poison emergency phone number 1-800-222-1222 near your phone.  

Monday, March 17 - Household Products

Every 30 seconds a child is exposed to a potential poison. Parents can protect their children and prevent accidental poisonings by teaching children to ask an adult before placing anything unfamiliar in their mouths; keeping household products locked up, out of sight and reach of children; using child resistant caps and packaging whenever possible, and never leaving a child unattended, even for a minute, where there are open household products or medicine.

Tuesday, March 18 - Medications

In 2007, the Florida/USVI Poison Information Center – Jacksonville received over 45,000 calls related to poison exposures in 2007.  Of this number, 49% involved children under six years old with medications being one of the most common poisonings.  Many of today’s medications are colorful and look much like candy. So much so, that even adults find it difficult to distinguish. Many children’s medications are flavored to taste good so that the child will take it more readily. This is a prescription for disaster.  Parents can protect their children by not allowing them to watch you take medication; never calling medication candy; storing medications out of sight in a locked cabinet; and remember that child resistant caps are not CHILD PROOF.

Wednesday, March 19 - Plants

Household and landscape plants have become one of the nation's leading causes of poisoning in children. Plants are bright and colorful, and some have flowers, leaves or berries that when eaten, may cause burning in the mouth, vomiting or diarrhea. Some may even be significantly toxic to the body. Many plants we have in our homes and gardens could be potentially poisonous. Parents can prevent accidental plant poisonings by learning and identifying the common and botanical names of your indoor and outdoor landscaping plants; keeping plant food and pesticides away from children; teaching children that it is dangerous to put any part of a plant, berry or wild mushroom in their mouth; and obtaining a list of toxic and non-toxic plants from the Poison Information Center. 

Thursday, March 20 – Spring Cleaning

Today marks the first day of Spring and may call for, what some of us refer to as, Spring Cleaning.  Each year more than 400 poisonous products, mostly cleaning products, enter the average home.  With this said, it is easy to see why common household cleaning products are the number one cause of accidental poisoning in children. Many of these products could be harmful if not used in the recommended way and are very poisonous if mixed together. During your Spring Cleaning, make sure you have protected your children by keeping these poisons away from them.  Properly dispose of unwanted chemicals; when cleaning, do not mix cleaning products; store cleaning products in their original containers, behind locked doors; never leave children unattended, especially when the chemical is being used; and keep the toll free national poison emergency phone number 1-800-222-1222 near your phone in case of an accidental exposure.

Friday, March 21 – Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to accidental poisonings. Over 70,000 seniors in the USA are poisoned annually, enough to fill up a football stadium, and 20% of all poisonings involve toddlers taking grandparents medication. Approximately 10% of poisoning deaths involve seniors and poisoning is the seventh leading cause of death in this age group. The most common problem is medication errors. Senior citizens can avoid accidental poisoning from medication by establishing a routine for taking medications; always discussing your medication with your physician or pharmacist including all over-the-counter and/or any herbal preparations; turning the light on when taking medications; wearing eyeglasses, if needed, to read the medication label; and, never removing medications from their original container.

Saturday, March 22 – Meet your Certified Specialist in Poison Information

When you call the Florida/USVI Poison Information Center-Jacksonville, you are greeted by a Certified Specialist in Poison Information, who is a skilled nurse, pharmacist, physician or a toxicologist who has passed a national competency examination. These skilled individuals are the only health care professionals in Florida certified as “Specialists in Poison Information”. They answer incoming emergency calls 24 hours a day/seven days a week. On an average day, these specialists respond to over 480 calls statewide.  The Florida/USVI Poison Information Center in Jacksonville is one of only three nationally accredited poison centers in the state and is located on the Shands Jacksonville campus. The Certified Specialist in Poison Information, together with the Center’s educational coordinator, work together to increase poison awareness by providing education programs to the lay public and health care professionals. They stand ready to assist you 24 hours a day if you or one of your family members is poisoned. If you wish to learn more, or have a poisoning emergency, please call the Poison Information Center toll free 24 hours a day, at 1-800-222-1222. The Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the center will immediately respond to your poisoning emergency and answer poison-related questions on a variety of potentially dangerous substances.

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VCHD Urges Residents to Protect Themselves from Mosquito-borne Illness

(Eastern Equine Encephalitis Reported in Volusia County)

For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Contact: Paul Minshew, Environmental Manager, 386-274-0691

Stefany Strong, VCHD PIO, 386-274-0838

DAYTONA BEACH - The Volusia County Health Department has received notification that two horses have recently died and tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease.

In addition, sentinel chickens are also verifying that the virus is present in mosquitoes in the same area. No human cases of mosquito-borne illnesses have been reported in Volusia County this year. 

“We ask county residents and tourists to be mindful and diligent regarding their personal mosquito protection efforts,” said Paul Minshew, environmental health manager for the Volusia County Health Department. “It is important to be aware of mosquito-borne illnesses and how to prevent them.”

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. EEE virus (EEEV) occurs in the eastern half of the United States where it causes disease in humans, horses, and some bird species. Because of the high mortality rate, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States.
 

The “5 D’s” for prevention:

• Dusk and Dawn (avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking a blood meal, for many species this is during the dusk and dawn hours)

• Dress – when possible, wear clothing that covers skin

•  DEET -  When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended.  Products with concentrations up to 30% DEET are generally recommended for most situations.  (It is not recommended to use DEET on children less than 2 months old. Instead, infants should be kept indoors or mosquito netting used over carriers when mosquitoes are present).

• Drainage (check your home to rid it of standing water in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs) 

Horse owners should contact their veterinarian for information on vaccination of horses against mosquito-borne diseases.

For additional information, please contact the Volusia County Health Department’s Epidemiology Department at: 386 – 274-0651 or visit www.volusiahealth.com.

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National Response Framework and Citizen Corps

On January 22, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the National Response Framework (NRF), successor to the National Response Plan. The NRF, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles and architecture by which our nation prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities.

The NRF is intended for senior elected and appointed leaders, such as federal department and agency heads, state governors, mayors, tribal leaders, city managers and the private sector.  Simultaneously, it informs emergency management practitioners by explaining the operating structures and tools routinely used by first responders and emergency managers at all levels of government. 

The NRF includes the important roles of individuals, households, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

 “Citizen Corps brings together local leaders from government and civic leaders from NGOs and the private sector to prepare for and respond to incidents.  Citizen Corps Councils are typically sponsored by elected or appointed officials and/or emergency managers.  These Councils provide leadership and support for programs that educate, train, and engage community volunteers to support emergency management and responders.”  (page 18, NRF, January 2008)

The NRF will go into effect March 22, 2008; it can accessed at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-core.pdf

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NIMS Training Requirements

While most emergency situations are handled locally, when there's a major incident, help may be needed from other jurisdictions, the state, and the federal government.  The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a consistent nationwide template for Federal, State, tribal and local governments and private sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.  NIMS benefits include a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid and resource management. 

Training is one of the important NIMS implementation activities that Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local entities must complete as they work towards becoming fully compliant with the NIMS. Local jurisdictions will be required to meet the FY 2007 NIMS implementation requirements as a condition of receiving federal preparedness funding assistance in FY 2008. The successful implementation of the NIMS depends on the participation and integration of all government entities and community-based organizations, including public, non-governmental, and private organizations that have a role in preventing, preparing for, responding to, or recovering from an incident.

Therefore, government entities and local jurisdictions should consider and include appropriate organizations in their NIMS implementation efforts, including private sector emergency medical and hospital providers, transportation systems, utilities, and special facilities such as industrial plants, nuclear power plants, factories, military facilities, stadiums and arenas.  Elected and appointed officials need to encourage NIMS adoption and use by associations, utilities, non-government organizations and the private sector.

This means that for our County and its entities to be in full compliance with NIMS, Volusia County’s disaster volunteers must follow the attached training guidelines.  A minimum requirement for “other emergency management response, support, volunteer personnel at all levels” is to take two courses that are available on line:  ICS-100, Introduction to ICS or equivalent course and FEMA IS-700, NIMS, an Introduction.  The FY07 NIMS Training Guidelines are listed below and this information is described on the FEMA/NIMS webpage:  http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_training.shtm

FY07 NIMS Training Guidelines

Volunteer for a Citizen Corps Program Now!

Last updated: 03/24/2008