tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63321556781417551142012-01-04T11:02:56.549-06:00Office of Emergency ManagementAmarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-19777146203577346622012-01-04T11:01:00.003-06:002012-01-04T11:02:56.561-06:00

The Pantex Area Emergency Preparedness Calendar is developed every year to provide safety information to those who live or work within a ten mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) around the Pantex Plant. Whether a hazardous materials release or a radiological emergency at the Pantex Plant, or tornadoes, winter storms, or wildfires, the calendar provides a basis for citizens to become better prepared

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-5852588069508150292011-11-10T10:50:00.000-06:002011-11-10T10:50:44.719-06:00

Today is Winter Weather Preparedness Day. Yep it will be in the 70s this weekend but as we all know, our weather in the Texas Panhandle is constantly changing. Take the time today to prepare and get your home and vehicle ready for winter weather. Check out our OEM Winter Weather Preparedness sheet here for more information.  Things to Conisder: Winter Storm Disaster Kits - Check up on your

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-16539551312070467522011-11-01T11:18:00.002-05:002011-11-04T09:51:32.277-05:00

The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, will take place at 1:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time) on November 9, 2011. The purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public. Although local and state components of the EAS are tested on a weekly and monthly basis, there has never been an end-to-end nationwide test of the

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-1745502862799771962011-10-26T11:36:00.000-05:002011-10-27T11:37:33.101-05:00

It’s that time again, cold weather and possible snow! Be sure and take protective measures against the cold. Read below for some winter weather tips or check out our Winter Weather Preparedness page. Wear loose, lightweight, warm clothes in layers since trapped air insulates. Wear a hat. Half of you body heat loss can be from the head. Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-20560356140979235912011-09-01T11:35:00.000-05:002011-10-27T11:35:32.835-05:00

September 2011 Our Office will be taking part as a coalition member in National Preparedness Month. Led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, the campaign is a nationwide effort encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. National Preparedness Month is supported by a coalition of public, private and non-profit organizations that

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-2351244180516604212011-08-17T11:49:00.001-05:002011-08-17T11:54:41.479-05:00

With the new school year ahead, the focus of this month's topic is geared towards being informed of school/daycare emergency plans and preparing your children should disaster strike while they are in school.  Depending on the type of emergency, it may not be safe to pick up your child from school.  Know your child's school/daycare emergency plan for different situations.  Below are some things to

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-33770363037703923252011-07-15T11:01:00.002-05:002011-07-15T16:00:05.074-05:00

So how hot has it been?  Amarillo has officially hit 23 days of days with temperatures over 100 degrees.  This makes us only 3 days shy of the record of 26 days set back in 1953.  Will we break it?  Well, we are right on track to doing so and with the ridge building in and a couple of more months of summer ahead, we just as might will.  We continue to be the driest start to the year on record

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-59515065566266800442011-06-07T17:13:00.001-05:002011-06-07T17:20:40.550-05:00

The 2011 year remains the driest start to a year ever for Amarillo.  From Jan 1 – June 6, Amarillo has received just 0.68 inches of precipitation.  The previous record was 2.87 inches back in 1953.  Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel as the top 5 driest starts to the year have not ended in the top 5 driest years on record. The 2011 Wildfire Season has been an active one for Potter

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-71805684902790508602011-05-17T10:48:00.000-05:002011-05-17T10:48:09.936-05:00

2011 has thus far given us 0.68 inches of rainfall here in the Amarillo area, yep not much.  In fact the U.S. Drought Monitor recently released showed an exceptional drought in Texas, the worst in the 11 years local forecasters have tracked the data.  Although it's a bit hard to transition from wildfire safety into severe weather preparedness mode due to the lack of thunder lately, the tornado

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-48329553700686580842011-04-05T13:17:00.000-05:002011-04-05T13:17:02.924-05:00

April 2011 is once again National Safe Digging Month, the time of year when all Common Ground Alliance stakeholders come together to communicate how important it is that professionals and homeowners alike call 811 and follow the safe digging process to help prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages. Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-56662404687964148922011-02-16T13:37:00.000-06:002011-02-16T13:37:03.804-06:00

With elevated fire concerns the next couple of days, we want to make sure you and your family practice wildfire prevention.  Many big fires are caused by small mistakes, so please be careful on these windy days. Wildfire can strike home if you have not taken some steps to protect your house and property. The actions and precautions listed below are designed to help you prepare your home and

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-91789443207356602172011-01-21T17:09:00.000-06:002011-01-21T17:09:30.050-06:00

Renewal of the Residential Safe Room Rebate ProgramJanuary 22, 1011 – The Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) announced today the start of the renewed Panhandle Residential Safe Room Rebate Program. This program provides Texas Panhandle residents assistance with the installation of safe rooms, or tornado shelters, meeting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) standards for

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-78885556991204810802009-07-10T11:20:00.003-05:002009-07-10T11:49:00.657-05:00

OEM wants to remind everyone to take precautions against the heat as local NWS is forecasting for hot weather to continue through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 107 today. So many simple measures can be taken to significantly reduce the chance of getting heat exhaustion and heat stroke during these hot days. Everyone is at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees but

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-34734760278468275892009-06-23T09:34:00.007-05:002009-06-24T13:39:45.665-05:00

1. MYTH: Lightning Never Strikes The Same Place TwiceTRUTH: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall pointy isolated object. The Sears Tower in Chicago is hit 40-90 times a year. 2. MYTH: If It's Not Raining, Or If Clouds Aren't Overhead, I'm Safe From LightningTRUTH: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-44037196816936780632009-06-22T09:15:00.002-05:002009-06-22T09:48:31.325-05:00

This week is Lightning Safety Week and serves us to remind ourselves that When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Did you know that an average of 62 people are killed each year by lightning in the U.S. and over 400 people are struck by lightning. To date, in 2009, 15 people have been killed and many more were permanently injured. Check out this link which goes into further detail of the statistics for

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-58240107474027691012009-05-19T06:44:00.003-05:002009-05-20T13:39:07.168-05:00

***SILVER ALERT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED*****SILVER ALERT**MISSING SENIOR CITIZEN SILVER ALERTNWS AMARILLOTHIS IS A MISSING SENIOR ALERT ISSUED BY THE TEXAS SILVER ALERT NETWORK******

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-6490655482206273512009-05-01T16:59:00.005-05:002009-05-01T17:31:50.301-05:00

Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management, City of Amarillo & Canyon, public and private school officials, and health officials continue to monitor the H1N1 situation. We are participating in all statewide and regional emergency operations conference calls.As of this morning, the CDC has 27 confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu in Texas and 109 confirmed cases in the U.S. There has been one

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-45417441088197651752009-04-29T09:50:00.001-05:002009-04-29T09:54:44.594-05:00

Shared by our local NWS:This week marks the beginning of the ozone season for many areas inthe United States. Today we highlight the health impacts of poor air quality. You are exposed to airborne contamination every time you breathe polluted air. But when you exercise...work in the yard...or do other strenuous activities that make you breathe harder and faster...you inhale even more polluted

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-90274018025375952542009-04-28T09:19:00.004-05:002009-05-01T17:19:24.228-05:00

Our emergency management office, city management from both Amarillo & Canyon, county judges, healthcare community, school & college communities have been in constant communication and participating in statewide emergency operations conference calls since late last week. We have been discussing our existing pandemic influenza plans as well as discussing precautionary actions for the current Swine

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-77731307539830078992009-03-27T19:27:00.003-05:002009-03-27T20:09:36.023-05:00

The EOC will be staffed through the night to monitor conditions.Current Conditions:It is still snowing heavily. Expect white out conditions due to blowing and drifting snow. Blizzard Warning in effect through 7 AM Saturday for Western and Central Panhandles, through 1 PM Saturday for the Eastern Panhandles. Travel is discouraged.There have been a few wrecks throughout the day but not very many.

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-52163377579823448332009-03-27T08:35:00.002-05:002009-03-27T08:59:43.815-05:00

The Emergency Operations Center was activated at 5:30 AM this morning to monitor and coordinate resources for the winter storm situation.Current Situation:..A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL TEXASAND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY...SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED IN THEHEAVIER BANDS. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...VERY STRONG NORTH

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-73777592609559468602009-03-26T18:14:00.004-05:002009-03-26T18:26:26.496-05:00

NWS Amarillo has issued a Blizzard Warning for the Texas Panhandle. Expectations are 8+" accumulations in the Amarillo area. White-out conditions are potential throughout the area, especially in the early Friday morning hours. Avoid travel if at all possible on Friday, if you do have to go out, please take extra precaution and allow enough time to get to your destination.Breakdowns of possible

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-81426954971160803362009-03-25T22:23:00.003-05:002009-03-25T22:33:35.061-05:00

As of Wednesday afternoon regarding snow fall potential:(courtesy Amarillo NWS & Panhandle Shield -http://tinyurl.com/dzqcrm)Remember, conditions can change at any time. Please stay tuned to local forecasts for up-to-date information. Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEM will be monitoring the situation and provide updates as warrented.

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-19644908522949859362009-03-25T20:56:00.005-05:002009-03-26T07:31:18.609-05:00

Amarillo NWS has issued a BLIZZARD WATCH for our area in effect from Thursday evening until Saturday morning.A BLIZZARD WATCH is issued when winds greater than 35 miles per hour, mixed with falling or blowing snow, and visibilities of 1/4 miles or less is forecasted for a period of 3 hours or more and is usually issued 36 to 12 hours before an expected blizzard event.WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?OEM, Red

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-15118805657915577822009-03-18T13:04:00.003-05:002009-03-18T13:13:15.478-05:00

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather related hazard. Over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood waters the next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into flood waters.Most flood-related deaths and injuries could be avoided if people who come upon areas covered with water followed

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-76755083951750528502009-03-07T12:49:00.001-06:002009-03-07T12:52:32.216-06:00

The majority of the TX Panhandle is under a Red Flag Warning today and with the critical fire concerns, it's important to keep these fire prevention tips in mind:Use caution when lighting open barbecue grills and try not to do any burning during these times of heightened concern Don't toss cigarettes out car windows Avoid driving through tall grass and never park you vehicle on dry grass. Carry a

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-83745677931952332622009-02-27T09:48:00.002-06:002009-02-27T11:17:09.788-06:00

So we've talked about about how you and your family will prepare, will be aware, and how to protect your home. Today we'll talk about the steps the city (specifically the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordination role) takes to ensure the safety of its citizens.OEM is in constant coordination with the NWS regarding storm potential. We monitor all conference calls and get briefings

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-33373244224775990372009-02-25T07:46:00.002-06:002009-02-25T07:52:54.135-06:00

These past couple of days we have talked about preparing your family, determining where you and your family will take shelter, and how you and your family will get warning information when a storm is approaching. Today we will talk about a few steps you can take to mitigate or reduce the damage to your property should severe weather hit.Mitigating Wind DamageBring Outdoor Items In – by bringing

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-47254928015257570072009-02-24T07:26:00.003-06:002009-02-24T07:49:17.556-06:00

Yesterday we talked about family preparedness and having a plan for when weather strikes. But how will you know when bad weather is on its way? A variety of means exist to obtain weather warnings. They include:All-Hazards NOAA Radio - The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-32029097791467471782009-02-23T11:35:00.003-06:002009-02-23T13:21:13.261-06:00

Good family communication requires some degree of advanced preparation, basic steps, and logical thinking. On a normal day, think about where you and your family go, how often you are separated, and how you use phones, text messaging, or email to communicate where you are and what you are doing. When severe weather strikes, your family may not be together and if land lines or cell phone towers

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-73275535129579377102009-02-21T08:47:00.003-06:002009-02-21T08:59:25.831-06:00

The wind really howled last night as a cold front entered the area around midnight causing a few power lines to snap, alarms to go off, and difficulty driving conditions. The winds got as high as tropical force winds, reaching upwards into the 60s mph. Here are a few peak windspeeds around the Tx Panhandle (via NWS):LOCATION SPEED /MPH/SAMNORWOOD TX 70.03 EBUSHLAND TX

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-63573622089798267992009-02-20T10:25:00.003-06:002009-02-20T10:41:41.674-06:00

Yes it'll be windy again today. The NWS issued a Red Flag Warning from 11: AM to 7 PM. With it being so dry, it's important to keep these fire prevention tips in mind:Use caution when lighting open barbecue grills and try not to do any burning during these times of heightened concernDon't toss cigarettes out car windows Avoid driving through tall grass and never park you vehicle on dry grass.

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-4916914144419135832009-02-19T09:36:00.002-06:002009-02-19T09:55:18.570-06:00

Governor Perry of Texas and Governor Henry of Oklahoma have proclaimed the week of Feb 22 through Feb 28 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Governor Perry reminds Texans of the life threatening nature of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes...and urges Texans to stay informed and to take time now to prepare for severe weather. Spring marks the time of year when severe storms and tornadoes increase

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-13607938968167765622009-02-18T15:14:00.001-06:002009-02-18T15:16:41.563-06:00

Yesterday was the deadline date set out for the Digital TV Transition but that date has now been pushed to June 12, 2009. The transition will effect those using analog televisions to receive free, over-the-air programming. Cable or satellite subscribers aren't likely to be affected. Users using the analog televisions will need to buy convertor boxes to change digital broadcasts back into old

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-85258611924640587492009-02-13T10:50:00.003-06:002009-02-13T11:01:35.229-06:00

This past Tuesday night was the 48th Annual Amarillo Emergency Services (AES) Appreciation & Award Banquet. AES members are a big help in our community as they volunteer their time to direct traffic after accidents, do traffic control at large events, and relay reports to our office in the event of a wildfire or severe storms. There are currently 9 active members and 3 auxiliary members with a

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-62970725983272683202009-02-04T08:51:00.002-06:002009-02-04T09:11:02.401-06:00

As we look forward to the spring season, it is that time again to prepare for those storms that often threaten our area. The city and various response organizations are constantly preparing should a tornado strike our area. We rely on our city spotters, the NWS, media, HAM radio operators, and our volunteer spotters to make sure we have accurate information in the event we have to activate our

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-8775984325626721832009-02-02T11:33:00.006-06:002009-02-02T19:20:48.912-06:00

There were a few fires out in the counties on Saturday, as the area saw it's 3rd NWS Red Flag Warning of the season. The EOC monitored the situation throughout the day. The larger of the fires for our counties was located in Potter County near the 2381 & 1061 split and burned an estimated 500 acres. Remember that burn bans are in place in Randall and Potter County issued a seven-day emergency

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-46054499385822852162009-01-30T22:37:00.002-06:002009-01-30T23:03:29.992-06:00

...So it's not one of our local hazards, but if you happen to find yourself in active volcanic country one day maybe you'll remember this post and know what to do. As you have probably heard on the news, there has been increased intense seismic activity at Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano. Geologists say an eruption is imminent although flights earlier this afternoon did not reveal any signs of ash

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-50640270847773545082009-01-30T08:44:00.002-06:002009-01-30T08:52:08.744-06:00

Today is the last Friday of the month which means today is the day we test our outdoor warning sirens and indoor warning systems including the cable-cut in warning system at 11:30 AM, weather permitting.Amarillo/Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management currently operates over 85 outdoor warning sirens that are designed to alert people who are outdoors of a potential emergency in the

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-21721550957261800732009-01-28T10:31:00.005-06:002009-01-29T15:55:56.260-06:00

Both Potter and Randall County Commissioners approved 90-day outdoor burn bans earlier this week. Potter County will implement the ban after Feb 9 in order to allow the Bureau of Land Management the opportunity to complete controlled burns north of Amarillo.There are currently 152 counties in Texas with burn bans.Besides taking wildfire PREVENTION steps mentioned in prior posts, you should strive

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-91072994051007549632009-01-26T15:45:00.002-06:002009-01-26T15:59:23.811-06:00

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the area until Tuesday at 6 AM. It's cold out there, and some areas are experiencing freezing fog, freezing drizzle, and some light snow. A few slick roadways have already been reported, so use extra caution when driving. Temps will remain below freezing tonight, so watch out for slick spots on the morning commute. Here's a few tips:Give yourself

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-71655178418493947482009-01-23T11:16:00.003-06:002009-01-23T11:31:17.554-06:00

Do you have an all-hazards NOAA radio?The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other emergency information for ALL hazards and disasters that require immediate notification. The radio operates on 162.550 MHz and is re-broadcasted in the local Amarillo area on 1610 AM.Once you purchase your

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-61594379126435341752009-01-21T08:15:00.006-06:002009-01-21T13:29:43.304-06:00

Construction is now complete on the monitoring and decon area of the reception area. It is now housed in the Rex Baxter Building on the fairgrounds and we are in the process of moving all the supplies and the equipment over to the new facilities.The Reception Center was developed in order to provide a place to receive and assist citizens who have been displaced by a radiological emergency at

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-12618299813402536972009-01-19T10:11:00.000-06:002009-01-19T10:57:24.919-06:00

The majority of the TX Panhandle is under a Red Flag Warning today and with 2 grassfires out in the county these last two days, it's important to keep these fire prevention tips in mind:Use caution when lighting open barbecue grills and try not to do any burning during these times of heightened concernDon't toss cigarettes out car windows Avoid driving through tall grass and never park you

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-2823193613652195902009-01-17T11:11:00.004-06:002009-01-17T11:16:18.316-06:00

Released by the Amarillo National Weather Service earlier this week.....ABNORMALLY LONG DRY SPELL UNDERWAY ACROSS THE PANHANDLES...THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES ARE IN THE MIDST OF A PROLONGED DRY SPELL IN WHICH AMARILLO HAS RECEIVED ONLY 0.24 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE LAST 83 DAYS DATING BACK TO OCTOBER 23RD,2008.NORMAL PRECIPITATION OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD IS 1.93 INCHES. THE

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-49706298866921947732009-01-16T08:44:00.003-06:002009-01-19T11:14:36.913-06:00

Over 450 responders, judges, emergency managers, elected officials, healthcare and volunteer organizations from across the Texas Panhandle, West Texas, and Austin area attended the Panhandle Regional Preparedness Conference on Wednesday. A great turnout for the first time event. Morning feature speakers included Chief Jack Colley and Director of Homeland Security Steve McCraw who spoke on the

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-66647369341214199822009-01-13T09:02:00.001-06:002009-01-16T09:24:21.739-06:00

Today is Amber Alert Awareness Day...January 13 is National Amber Alert Awareness Day. The day, named by the U.S. Department of Justice, is meant to remind Americans that Amber Alerts are an important tool in recovering children who have been abducted.Members of the general public can sign up to receive Amber Alerts via text messages on their wireless telephones by visiting http://

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-67155993791389760122009-01-12T18:02:00.001-06:002009-01-12T23:39:36.592-06:00

In the event of a disaster, knowing where your family records and important documents are and being able take them with you during an evacuation can save you a lot of time and headaches. So what documents should you gather? Some examples include: birth certificates, adoption, marriage, and death certificates; passports, deeds, titles, leases, insurance policies, social security records, contracts

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-24179227712182629282009-01-10T10:12:00.003-06:002009-01-10T10:44:57.107-06:00

As I come across some interesting websites or I am forwarded them by our readers, I'll be passing them along here. Today I will share the NOAA's Daily Hazards Briefing website.http://www.noaawatch.gov/briefing.phpHere NOAA lays out everything for the day. You will find: forecasts, imagery, warnings, tropical discussions, fire weather, space weather, volcano activity, earthquake activity,

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-39032104306178443782009-01-09T10:36:00.004-06:002009-01-17T11:20:39.788-06:00

Most of us carry cell phones, but is your phone ICEd? ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. The number programmed under the name ICE should dial the person in your family that can respond to medical decisions if you are injured or unconscious or notify your loved ones of your location during a disaster.How to do it? Simply create a new contact on you phone named ICE - then enter a descriptor (i.e

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-8741221486405066442009-01-08T14:51:00.004-06:002009-01-08T15:44:48.775-06:00

You've probably heard about it, Web 2.0 - an interactive internet that allows users to communicate, collaborate, and and securely share information. Web 2.0 sites include YouTube, Myspace, Facebook, Youmeo, Twitter, Flickr, and Google Map mashups just to name a few.Now that most cell phones are equiped with cameras and wireless internet, there is a wealth of of information including pictures and

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-86116840396205403022009-01-07T09:23:00.002-06:002009-01-07T09:59:21.170-06:00

We are in the middle of preparing for the Panhandle Regional Preparedness Conference to be held next week and we're excited!The purpose of the conference is familiarize our region's emergency management system and public and private sectors on the Panhandle Emergency Response Plan following a large disaster. Speakers lined up inlude the Texas Office of Homeland Security State Director, Chief of

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-371798053500870382009-01-06T15:33:00.004-06:002009-01-06T15:47:53.177-06:00

FEMA released its 2008 End-of-Year Highlights. Here are the numbers ...US Disasters:75 Major Disaster Declarations 16 Emergency Declarations Individual Assistance:-$913 million to assist applicants for damaged or destroyed property-$216 million to assist individuals with other needs, including disaster unemployment and crisis counseling-1.5 million applicationsMajor Operations:- Midwest Floods -

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-84536948741106050612009-01-05T14:29:00.004-06:002009-01-05T14:56:05.259-06:00

New legislation came into effect in Texas on 1/1/09 that hopefully will safe a lot of lives and prevent many cigarette-ignited fires. Under the new laws, all cigarettes sold in Texas and Oklahoma must be certified fire standard compliant. Wholesalers and distributors will be allowed to sell their existing inventory, only if it was produced before January 1, 2009. The fire-safe cigarettes are less

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-31076806092158880922009-01-04T09:28:00.003-06:002009-01-04T09:46:25.630-06:00

After experiencing unusually warmer than usual temperatures for January the past few days, an impressive cold front blasted through the area last night. Temps shouldn't get higher than the low/mid 30s and with cold northerly winds, expect it to feel more like the teens or twenties. Although no snow is expected with the system, here are some things to keep in mind if you venture out:If you plan to

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-34399306785533643762009-01-03T13:59:00.000-06:002009-01-03T14:27:33.347-06:00

The first weather service Red Flag Warning of 2009 was issued for Potter/Randall County today. Red Flag Warnings are issued when temperatures, humidity and winds that contribute to extreme fire weather conditions are occurring or forecasted to occur.A few things to keep in mind in order to prevent and reduce the number of major fires during this period of heightened concern:Don't toss cigarettes

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-62161404630932725582009-01-02T11:02:00.000-06:002009-01-02T11:44:35.556-06:00

Significant events in 2008 in Amarillo (compiled by Amarillo National Weather Service)Year Stats:High for the year: 106 deg, June 2ndLow for the year: 6 deg, December 21stAnnual Precipitation: 22.44 inches (2.79 inches above normal)Annual Snowfall: 7.1 inches (10.8 inches below normal)Tornadoes (TX panhandle): 12 (compared to ~62 in 2007)January 2008Drought conditions across much of the

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332155678141755114.post-30739535006232715262008-12-31T15:13:00.000-06:002008-12-31T16:50:50.826-06:00

2008 Tornado Season (Nationwide)2008 was an active year for tornadoes and also one of the deadliest. The high number of tornado-related fatalities during the first half of 2008 makes this one of the deadliest seasons since reliable records began back in 1953.Here are the statistics (courtesy of the NOAA Storm Prediction Center):2008 Hurricane Season (Nationwide)2008 was also an active year for

Amarillo/Potter/Randall OEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348153939419361799noreply@blogger.com0