HomeVISITORS AND PERSONNELEMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergency Preparedness

The HQ USCENTCOM Emergency Management (EM) Program assists all assigned military, civil service, and contract employees and their families to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, technological accidents (man-made), and hostile attacks involving weapons of mass destruction (explosives, toxic industrial chemicals/materials, etc.).

This site offers basic information regarding personal and family preparedness. It is intended to answer some questions you have and those not yet considered. Emergency Preparedness can be narrowed to three basic steps for year-round application – not just during Hurricane Season (1 June to 30 November).

1. Have a Plan

2. Build a Kit

3. Stay Informed (a continuous process!)

HOW TO STAY INFORMED:

Know what resources are available to families and CENTCOM employees. Become familiar with the resources the best apply to the area in which you live and work. Learn the zones and plans that apply to the county that you live in. Sign up for alert and notification systems that are available. The following information provides you a good overview of what is available in terms of information and education resources as well as alert and notification systems.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING RESOURCES:

During evacuations and following disasters, toll-free information lines will provide unclassified messages with status and special instructions for MacDill AFB and HQ USCENTCOM.

HQ USCENTCOM Emergency Mgmt InfoLine: 855-236-4636 (855 2EM INFO)

or

MacDill AFB InfoLine: 800-288-2034

In addition to the HQ Emergency Manager, Emergency Management Representatives (‘EMRs’) are appointed within each Directorate and Special Staff in HQ USCENTCOM to assist HQUSCENTCOM organization and personnel with emergency preparedness.

To aid in making personal and family preparedness plans, there are many resources available to you. Some of them are listed below.

The website www.ready.gov provides some great guides to making a plan and building a kit.

FEMA: AMERICA’S PREPAREATHON!t

America’s PrepareAthon! is an information campaign to help individuals, organizations, and communities to prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills, and exercises. Many resources can be found here:

https://community.fema.gov/

TAMPA BAY AREA AND NATIONAL RESOURCES:

  • Citrus:
    		•  (352) 726-1121 www.sheriffcitrus.org/emergency-management.php
  • Desoto:
    		•  (863) 993-4831 www.desotobocc.com/departments/emergency_management
  • Hardee:
    		•  (863) 773-6373 www.hardeecounty.net/eoc.htm
  • Hernando:
    		•  (652) 352-6830 www.hernandosheriff.org/em
  • Hillsborough:
    		•  (813) 236-3800 www.hillsboroughcounty.org/index.aspx?NID=115
  • Manatee:
    		•  (941) 749-3507 www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/public-safety/emergency-management.html
  • Pasco:
    		•  (727) 847-8137 www.pascocountyfl.net/Index.aspx?NID=365
  • Pinellas
    		•  (727) 464-3800 www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/
  • Polk:
    		•  (863) 519-7350 www.polk-county.net/boccsite/Departments/emergency-management
  • Sarasota:
    		•  (941) 861-5000 www.scgov.net/AllHazards/Pages/default.aspx
  • City of Tampa EM Office:
    		•  (813) 274-7011 www.tampagov.net/emergency-management
  • Florida Division of Emergency Management (State EM Offices):
    		•  (850) 413-9969 www.floridadisaster.org
  • County Zone Maps (Surge, Evac):
    		•  www.floridadisaster.org/PublicMapping/index.htm
  • FEMA:
    		•  (202) 646-2500 www.fema.gov
  • U.S. Ready Program:
    		•  (800) 621-3362 www.ready.gov
  • Centers for Disease Control
    		•  (800) 232-4636 www.bt.cdc.gov
  • American Red Cross:
    		•  (800) 733-2767 www.redcross.org
  • Disability.GOV:
    		•  www.disability.gov
  • OSHA:
    		•  www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness
  • Environmental Protection Agency:
    		•  www3.epa.gov

    DISASTER AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION

    NATIONAL WARNINGS

    EARTHQUAKES

    FLOODING

    HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZMAT)

    HEAT STRESS and HEALTH CONCERNS

    HURRICANES

    INSURANCE and DISASTER ASSISTANCE (refer to your insurance provider to confirm coverages)

    SINK HOLES

  • SinkHole.Org: www.sinkhole.org

    SPECIAL NEEDS

    TERRORISM

    THUNDERSTORMS / LIGHTNING

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency): http://m.fema.gov/thunderstorms-lightning
  • Ready.GOV: www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning
  • American Red Cross (ARC): www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/thunderstorm

    • TORNADOES

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency): http://m.fema.gov/tornadoes
  • Ready.GOV: /www.ready.gov/tornadoes
  • NOAA (Nat’l Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration): www.noaa.gov/tornadoes.html

    • WILDLAND FIRES

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency): http://m.fema.gov/wildfires
  • Ready.GOV: www.ready.gov/wildfires
  • Fish & Wildlife Service: www.fws.gov/fire/outreach

    • WINTER STORMS

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency): http://m.fema.gov/winter-storms-extreme-cold
  • Ready.GOV: www.ready.gov/winter-weather
  • American Red Cross (ARC): www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/winter-storm

    • FLORIDA WILDLIFE

  • Fish and Wildlife Commission: myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles
  • Your Florida Backyard (info only): www.nsis.org/wildlife

    • MOLD

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency) Remediation: www.fema.gov/removing-mold-your-home
  • EPA Mold Guide: www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html
  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC): www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/protect.asp

    • NATIONAL & LOCAL WEATHER INFORMATION

  • National Hurricane Center (NHC): www.nhc.noaa.gov/?atlc
  • Tampa Bay area Weather (NWS): www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw
  • The Weather Channel: www.weather.com

    • TAMPA BAY AREA NEWS AND WEATHER STATIONS

  • TV – WTVT (FOX): www.fox13news.com
  • TV – WFLA (NBC): www.wfla.com
  • TV – WFTS (ABC): www.abcactionnews.com
  • TV – WTSP (CBS): www.wtsp.com
  • TV – WEDU (PBS): www.wedu.org
  • Radio – AM 970 (WFLA): www.970wfla.com
  • Radio – AM 820 (WWBA): http://www.newstalkflorida.com
  • Radio – AM 1250: (WHNZ): www.whnz.com
  • Radio – FM 89.7: (WUSF, NPR): www.wusf.usf.edu
  • Radio – AM 680: (WRMD), Spanish

    • NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheets are available online and are easily printed. These are a GREAT addition to your Communications Plan. Go to NOAA’s website to view and download the sheets atwww.ncddc.noaa.gov/activities/weatherready-nation/newis.

    DISASTER / EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

    Many [free] training courses are online through FEMA and provide certificates when successfully completed: http://training.fema.gov/IS.

    The USCENTCOM Emergency Manager or your Directorate EM Rep can recommend additional resources.

    DISABILITY PREPAREDNESS

    HOW CAN I RECEIVE WARNING AND ALERTS?

    If assigned to HQ USCENTCOM, personnel must ensure that their contact information is kept up-to-date in the AtHoc Self Service function, ‘What About Me’ system, organizational recall rosters, etc. This is imperative to ensuring timely alerts and notifications. Warnings, alerts, and special instructions will be received by one or more means on-base and in HQ USCENTCOM facilities. Depending on the conditions, alerts and notifications will also be made available off base and after duty hours via several means. Knowing the warnings and signals, what they mean, and what to do is critical for personal protection and safety.



    1. “Giant Voice” is the outdoor base-wide Public Address and Warning System. Broadcasts warn of severe weather threats (lightning, tornado, etc.) and hostile actions (e.g. active shooter). The below graphic explains the warning signals and meanings.

    2. Interconnected Public Address and Warning System (sometimes called “Little Voice”) is used to announce emergency warning and command group instructions inside and around USCENTCOM facilities. Announcements are verbal – no sirens or tones.

    3. The AtHoc Emergency Management Mass Notification System may be used to notify personnel both on and off duty of emergencies, evacuation and disaster instructions, and special command directions – used sparingly. Depending on the situation, time-critical nature, and purpose, you may receive notifications/alerts by one or more of the system’s capabilities:

    • Unclassified E-mail and/or computer pop-up at work
    • Phone message at work
    • Personal E-mail
    • Phone message to gov’t-issued cell phone, personal cell phone, or home phone
    • Text message to mobile phones
    ***Self Service registration on the USCENTCOM unclassified (NIPR) network is required for this system to work!

    4. “CENTCOM All” E-mails to all personnel at work on multiple networks.

    5. Civil Authority alert/notification systems may alert you to emergencies and other events affecting a city, county, or surrounding areas, if enrolled (by self-registration).

    Several civil government alerting services around the MacDill AFB region include:

    NOTE: Your local community or county may offer their own alerting service. Ask your local Emergency Management Office or City Hall about local emergency notification systems and services.

    6. NOAA Weather Radios will provide you warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) when severe weather watches and warnings are declared. These are very important to have in your homes, and some models are portable and can be taken to the beach, hiking, etc. Learn more at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr.

    MORE KEY INFORMATION TO KNOW:

    SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS

    The National Weather Service (NWS) and base Weather Flight may declare ‘watches’ and ‘warnings’ as severe weather threatens. Learn the meanings and ensure you monitor news/weather stations to stay informed.

    • Hurricane Warning: Tropical storm force winds and conditions are possible within 36 hours.
    MacDill AFB uses Hurricane Conditions of Readiness (HURCON) to provide an incremental countdown to storm force winds (sustained winds greater than 58 mph).



    NOTE: You can become a ‘Weather Spotter” for the Nat’l Weather Service, or just learn more about severe weather at http://skywarn.org.