Public Notice - Rip Current Awareness Week

NOAA has designated the week of June 5, 2005 as our inaugural, national Rip Current Awareness Week. The Rip Current Awareness Week website  http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/week.shtml  has details. Included on this page are electronic files which can be used by State and local governments, municipalities, beach front organizations, chambers of commerce, and other shoreline interests to make signs to inform people of the dangers of rip currents. 

Rip Current Public Service announcements will be playing on South Bend NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio stations, and the Weather Channel.

Research indicates that on the southeastern Lake Michigan shoreline when winds are blowing directly onshore and wave heights are 4 feet or more, the risk of significant rip current activity increases. Squall lines moving across Lake Michigan also increase the risk of rip currents with their passage and for several hours afterwards. When either of these conditions are expected in the first two days of the forecast this summer, the National Weather Service Northern Indiana Office will include mention of an increased risk of rip currents in our Hazardous Weather Outlook (see our web site.. weather.gov/iwx )

Rip Current Safety Fact Sheet can be found (Click here)

March 6 - 12, 2005 is proclaimed as:
Severe Weather Preparedness Week for Indiana.

March 9th has been selected as the date for
Statewide Tornado Exercise.

For more information on Severe Spring Weather please visit:

Tornados

For more information on tornado drills in local schools please visit:
http://www.doe.state.in.us

Local Storm Spotter classes are scheduled:

Wed Mar 9 at 3pmCST
 Purdue University North Campus Library
Student Faculty Bldg Rm #2 

Wed Mar 9 at 630pm CST
Purdue University North Campus Library
 Student Faculty Bldg Rm #2

Contact LP EMA/HS (219) 326-6808 Ext 469
 for more information on classes.

PRESS RELEASE

January 21, 2005

For Immediate Release

Due to recent cresting of the Kankakee River, the LaPorte County Emergency Management Agency has procured sandbags to assist residence of the Kankakee River System with levy maintenance and creation. There are approximately 30,000 sandbags available to the public.

These sandbags are designed to hold about four shovels full of sand. Once sandbags are filled with sand, tie sandbags shut with the attached tie. The sandbags then can be stacked in an interlocking manner, like that of bricks on a wall.

Residents experiencing flooding along the Kankakee River can pickup sandbags at the LaPorte County Highway’s Hanna or LaPorte Offices. Please call LaPorte County Highway to make arrangements for pickup at 362-2051 (LaPorte) or 797-3105 (Hanna). The LaPorte County Highway office is open Mon.-Fri. 7:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

For further information please call LaPorte County Emergency Management at 326-6808 ext. 469 or your Township Trustee. Information is also available at www.lpemahs.org.

LaPorte County Emergency Management Agency (LPEMA) has done well in 2004.

LPEMA proved to be a great asset in helping local volunteer and professional organizations gain Federal and State Grants to enhance local public safety and welfare.

 Since the 9-11 incident, Laporte County has been granted approximately 1.3 million dollars for the protection of LaPorte County. The bulk was used for better fire protection, prevention and detection equipment. LPEMA received the grant notification then contacted local departments informing them of what they may request and for what reasons. This past year the bulk of the grant money was used in part to provide better air filtration masks (SCBA) and infrared heat detection units for City and township fire departments. The primary focus for grants this year was the better protection of children.

 One of the most difficult situations in any type of emergency is locating humans within a damaged building. This new equipment, placed throughout the County, will help emergency responders in finding people in need with more speed and fewer hazards to the responder.

LPEMA also spent the past year educating the local school systems and other public agencies to update safety plans for any type of emergency. They updated plans for establishment of safety areas for school children during any type of disaster. Thanks to the insight of the LPEMA Director our children are more safe than ever before.

 LaPorte County now has a comprehensive plan including assets available to help the public anytime of need. When a snow emergency or tornado comes to the County, LPEMA has created a workable environment to enhance the safety and well being of the citizens of LaPorte County.

 Another function of LPEMA is the education of local communities and development of area CERTs (Certified Emergency Response Teams). CERT is a group of individuals trained to help the public at a time of need until professionals appear. CERT groups, along with the local amateur radio groups, are a huge asset to the County comprehensive plan. Our most common emergency in LaPorte County involves snow. CERT members along with amateur radio provide transportation of the sick, hospital personal and emergency medication delivery to residents on non-travelable County roads. CERT training is available through our Michigan City EMA Division. For more information please visit:

www.lpemahs.org  www.fema.gov  www.in.gov/sema

Submitted by:
LaPorte Environmental Technical Assistance Group
510 Lincolnway
LaPorte, IN 46350
 

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