How To Prepare In Your Community
Community Roles |
Description |
|---|---|
| California Highway Patrol's role in Amber Alert | The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is responsible for statewide coordination of AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert and the other emergency response activities associated with a child abduction. The CHP is ready to assist in the recovery of an abducted child with statewide notifications of child abduction information. For more information, visit https://www.chp.ca.gov/Pages/Amber-Alert.aspx Missing children hotline: 800-222-3463 |
| Neighborhood watch | Neighborhood Watch is an organized group of neighbors who consistently observe and report any activity or situation that affects the appearance or safety of their community. If you are interested in becoming an active member, call the Sheriff's Department at 916-874-5115, or call your local police department. |
| Volunteering opportunities | California established a Citizen Corps program to help coordinate in-state emergency response volunteer activities. Local Citizen Corps Councils promote and strengthen the Citizen Corps programs at the community level. Local programs may include volunteers in police service, and in community emergency response teams consisting of large corporations, parent-teacher organizations, church groups, the Medical Reserve Corps, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and neighborhood watch groups. Sacramento Region Citizen Corps Council (SRCCC) SRCCC is composed of a multidisciplinary group of leaders from businesses, schools, the health care field, emergency response agencies, faith-based organizations, and other community entities. SRCCC was established to plan and coordinate resources and to conduct education programs through which to train volunteers in preparedness, emergency response and recovery functions. To learn more, visit srccc.org, email sacramentoresponds@gmail.com, or call 916-601-6539. You may also call the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Volunteer Services Bureau at 916-874-7339. See sacsheriff.com/pages/volunteer_services.php for additional information. You can learn more from:
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| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio (NOAA) | Consider buying a radio that receives National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather information, and includes a tone alert system to warn of severe conditions. NOAA weather radios receive weather and public service announcements from NOAA and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). NOAA broadcasts 24-hour local forecasts, travel conditions and severe weather warnings. Battery operated weather radios can be purchased for less than $50. Several companies that offer the radio can be found online by using the key words “NOAA Weather Radio." For more information visit noaa.gov or call 202-482-6090. |
| American Red Cross | For groups of six or more employees, the Red Cross can schedule a private first aid or CPR course at the Red Cross office or at your business. Contact the Gold Country Region Chapter of the American Red Cross at 916-993-7070 or consult redcross.org/local/california/gold-country.html for more information. You can obtain more ideas on business disaster preparedness from the Small Business Administration at sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/prepare-emergencies. |
Watch for Suspicious Activity
- Continually conduct surveillance in your own neighborhood. Pay attention to:
- A stranger entering the home of your neighbors while they are away
- Anyone peering into or forcibly entering a locked vehicle
- Unusual sounds, including breaking glass, gunshots or screaming
- Open or broken windows at a closed business or residence
- Parked, occupied vehicles — especially if seen at an unusual hour
- An unfamiliar vehicle left running, parked and unoccupied on your street
- Anyone removing accessories, license plates or gasoline from a vehicle
- Strange or frequent comings and goings from homes or businesses
- Business transactions being conducted from a vehicle
- Unauthorized individuals tampering with street lighting, cable television or telephone equipment
- Be alert. Meet and become familiar with your neighbors. Be aware of unusual or abandoned packages or vehicles and of suspicious activities that should be reported to the police.
- Develop a list of emergency services agencies and their phone numbers and addresses. Include shelters, food banks, police and fire departments, and distribute the list to your neighbors.
- Find out about community emergency plans. What plans do your schools have in place? What plans are in place where you work?
- Make sure schools and workplaces have updated emergency contact information for your family. Include a cell phone number if you have one.
- Check on the school emergency plan for any school-age children you have. You need to know if your children will be kept at school until a parent or designated adult can pick them up. Be aware that the school may designate another nearby location, such as a public park, for pickup.
- Determine a place where your family members can meet if they become separated during an emergency. Establish an out-of-town contact, such as a friend or relative, to whom everyone can call and report. Make sure the contact agrees and that everyone has the number and knows how to dial it. Consider prepaid calling cards and emergency contact lists for your children. Identify places to meet both close to home and some distance away.
- Plan for what you may need if you are away from home during an emergency. Keep water, a blanket and non-perishable food in your car. Always keep your fuel tank at least half full. Remember that if electricity is interrupted, gas pumps do not work.
- Learn which organizations in your community — for example, places of worship, schools, fire departments and the Red Cross — work on preparedness efforts. Find out what you can do, and volunteer to help.
- Join, start or reinvigorate a Neighborhood Watch program. Neighborhood Watch is an efficient means for you to interact with your neighbors, pass along the information in this booklet, and develop neighborhood plans. Find out if your area has a community association, and join it.
- Consider participating in Neighborhood Emergency Training (NET). Learn more at srccc.org/programs.
- Become a member of the Sacramento Region Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), through which you can receive extensive disaster preparedness training at no charge. Visit sfdcert.org for information.
- Active and retired health care professionals can join the Sacramento Regional Medical Reserve Corps to enhance the response to natural and man-made disasters.
