Racine County, Wisconsin, Implements Disaster Drill To Help Better Prepare For Emergency Situations
Release Date: July 2, 2003
Release Number: HQ-03-143
Washington, DC -- As this week's Smart Practice, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) highlights the efforts of Racine County, Wisc., in implementing a disaster drill to test the response capabilities of emergency responders and local camp staff in the event of an emergency. Over 250 Boy and Girl Scouts from Racine and Kenosha counties participated in the day-long event, which began in the morning with search and rescue with search dogs, water rescue, gas and electric safety, and communications with rescue planes and emergency technicians in the field.
The drill, held in September 2002, had two objectives, to test disaster response plans and educate local Boy and Girl Scouts about emergency preparedness and safety at the first ever Southeast Wisconsin Disaster Camporee and Exercise.
"FEMA's effort to prepare the nation includes highlighting the smart practices of state and local emergency managers and first responders to strengthen their preparedness and response capabilities," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "By collecting and sharing the best ideas from the state and local level, FEMA can help communities improve their emergency preparedness and response-related activities for effective programs."
State and local smart practices could involve: effective mutual aid practices, response operations, training, assessment tools, planning models, exercises, standards and competencies, incident management and much more. Selected smart practices are shared via e-mail in a weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices bulletin. Visit www.fema.gov/onp to read about Racine County, Wisc., and their efforts to implement a disaster drill to better prepare residents and members of the community for disasters of all kinds, as well as view other smart practices.
To submit a smart practice idea to share with other emergency managers and responders or to subscribe to the weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices, e-mail a request to SmartPractices@fema.gov.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 02-Jul-2003 15:56:58