“Our emergency operations staff is constantly planning for events that we hope never happen. Families should do the same thing by creating an emergency supply kit and a family emergency plan. It is the best way to stay safe.” — Mayor Bill Finch
- WHO: Mayor Bill Finch, Director of Emergency Management Scott Appleby.
- WHAT: Hurricane preparedness.
- WHEN: Monday, July 20, 2015, at 11:00 a.m.
- WHERE: Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center, 581 North Washington Ave., Bridgeport, Conn.
Bridgeport, Conn. (July 20, 2015) – With hurricane season upon us, Mayor Bill Finch is reminding residents to make a kit, create a plan and most importantly stay safe.
“Our emergency operations staff is constantly planning for events that we hope never happen,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “Families should do the same thing by creating an emergency supply kit and a family emergency plan. It is the best way to stay safe.”
Director of Emergency Management Scott Appleby will provide tips on what to do – and what not to do -- during and after a major weather event.
Every year, Hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.
The City of Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center has plans in place to make sure the community is prepared for, alerted to and can recover from any potential hurricane or coastal storm.
The EOC staff is in daily contact with the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center and other local coastal emergency centers to make sure that if a hurricane did impact the state our area is prepared.
According to Appleby, the City has been creating emergency operation plans for every neighborhood to let residents know where to go and what resources are available in an emergency.
“A key is to get accurate, useful information quickly to residents,” Appleby said. “People need to prepare in advance. We always say, ‘Make a kit. Have a plan.’ The city plans every day as well.”
Emergency Operations has trained more than 100 volunteers for its Community Emergency Response Team member. CERT members are volunteers who finish 20 hours of training and respond during emergencies to help their neighbors and community “when and if Mother Nature delivers us a blow,” said Mayor Finch.
“These are volunteers who help keep safe our kids and families during emergencies, and they have my deepest gratitude.”
Another priority has been working with service providers and social service agencies to support the city’s vulnerable populations. The city has been working to construct a database of people with special medical conditions that put them at greater risk.
“That could be a person who needs electricity to power an oxygen machine. That could be a person who takes medicine that needs to be refrigerated or needs help filling an essential prescription,” said Appleby.
The city has added a representative from the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services during Emergency Operation Center activations to help ensure its clients receive the support it needs in emergencies.