**Publication**   During a hurricane, the storm surge poses the greatest threat to life and land, yet many people don't even know what it means.  Simply put, storm surge is the abnormal rise of sea water. Predicting it is far more complicated and explaining it is tricky, too, as forecasters at the National Hurricane Center discovered, again, during a review of Superstorm Sandy.

This hurricane season, forecasters hope to offer easy-to-understand color-coded maps and they are changing the way they talk to emergency officials, the media and the public.  "Scientists by their very nature use very sophisticated language, technical language," said Jamie Rhome, leader of the hurricane center's storm surge team. "It turns out that nobody else understands what we're talking about. So once we figured that out, we started using more plain language."

Most people believe storm surge is a wall of water, similar to a tsunami, but it's actually just sea water being pushed toward the shore by winds. It can happen quickly and move miles inland, flooding areas not accustomed to being inundated with sea water.

Large death tolls have been blamed storm surge. At least 1,500 people died during Hurricane Katrina either directly or indirectly because of storm surge, the hurricane center said.  To better explain the danger, they found out when they talk about storm surge, they should say "height" instead of "depth" when explaining how water levels might change.

"We were using 'depth,' thinking this was very clear. It turns out that nobody else does," Rhome said. "They're waiting for height, ho 

 

The Ogeechee River has fallen below flood stage and is currently at 8.98 feet, this will conclude monitoring for this event.  You can voice any concerns or ask any questions by calling the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency at 912-754-8200.  

Notification 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued their latest 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, expecting yet another active season. **Publication**

 

The word "professional" is often misused to refer to someone is good at their job, even when that job is a technical trade (e.g a professional plumber). Now I certainly agree than someone can act "professionally" no matter what their calling. However, there are qualitative differences between a trade and a profession and if emergency management is ever to be fully recognized as a profession we need to keep this in mind.

The three characteristics that are usually associated with a profession are:

·  A code of ethics

·  A certification program

·  A specialized body of knowledge

The International Association of Emergency Managers offers both a code of ethics and the Certified Emergency Manager certification.  Neither are perfect but they are good starts. The question that still hasn't been settled is, "what is the specialized body of knowledge that defines emergency management?"

To be sure, there is a body of technical knowledge that should be mastered by entry level emergency managers. These are the tasks we typical associate with the job, such as the ability to develop an emergency plan or conduct an exercise. There is also a considerable body of technical knowledge to absorb such as familiarity with the Stafford Act and Federal planning guidance. But these task are technical in nature; they address the 

As the weather begins to warm up, there is one question that we in Emergency Management start asking……..What's the outlook for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season? According to latest report from Phil Klotzbach and William M. Gray (research authorities at the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University), there is some uncertainty with the north Atlantic hurricane season which begins June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.
Since El Nino never fully developed in 2012 and because we have recently returned to "neutral conditions," there is a possibility that an El Nino event will develop this year and that tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures this spring will be at warmer levels than in 2012. In addition, the team is also predicting a high probability (97%) that one or more named storms (this includes tropical storms and category 1-5 hurricanes), will make landfall in 2013. How's that for odds? Prepare now…..It is just around the corner 

The Effingham Board of Commissioners through its Emergency Management Agency has created an organization called Effingham Resource Council.  The mission of the Effingham Resource Council is to respond to the needs of the community, with an emphasis on responding to the needs of disaster victims immediately after a disaster and assist with long term recovery needs which are not met by relief organizations, personal finance, and insurance and other disaster recovery programs and to help stabilize those impacted through comprehensive case management.    Our purpose of this committee is to strengthen coordination among individuals, community organizations, businesses and government agencies, as well as to foster efficient, effective service delivery to victims of disaster after those victims have pursued a standard sequence of delivery assistance methods. Further, it is a purpose of this committee to remain intact and to meet on a regular basis in non-disaster times.   This extensive program will incorporate special committees which will be over projects such as Project Lifesaver, Interfaith Hospitality, Search and Rescue Teams and Dive Teams just to name a few.   The Executive Board shall consist of the following volunteers; Todd Hargrave, Chair;  Sam Weissel, Vice Chair;   Becky Fields, Secretary;  Open position, Treasurer;  Edwin Myrick, Emergency Management.  There are several committees involved, Effingham Resource Council is interviewing interested individuals to lead those projects.  

In the emergency management field, planning is the most important thing we can do to prepare for any type of disaster or an emergency.  As we have seen after our thunderstorms, downburst and especially in the tornados which hit the Ebenezer area in 2008; Debris Management requires planning even on the smallest scale.  Attached is the county wide multi jurisdictional debris management plan, it is the product that came from a planning team consisting of key administrative staff from Effingham County Government, City of Rincon, Springfield, Guyton and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.  I am pleased to announce that the Effingham County Board of Commissioners approved the Multi-Jurisdictional Debris Management Plan on November 6^th, 2012 during the Commissioners meeting.

The Debris Management Plan outlines procedures for everyone to follow creating a uniformed response throughout the county which should expedite recovery efforts.  That is the importance of having all municipalities and the County Government working in unison for this common goal, once the damage hits a certain threshold we become eligible for reimbursement funds up to 75% of expenses that meet certain criteria, which in turn is a huge savings to the Citizens of Effingham County.  This particular plan considers several key elements; Hazardous Materials, Private property concerns, road clearing by priority, debris monitors, load site monitors, debris management sites, debris volume reduction procedures, the use of contractors and the special needs and concerns of each municipality within Effingham County. 

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency is trying to find the best, most efficient way to reach the citizens in the event important information needs to be released.  If you have a cell phone, text   follow@effinghamema  to 40404.  This will link your cell phone with our Twitter account, which we will use to notify citizens of any important occurrence.  If you have any suggestions please reach out to us at eema@effinghamcounty.org or call us at 912.754.8200.  Thank you!

 

   We would like to set a meeting date for Effingham County citizens who wish to discuss Hazard Mitigation Planning for Effingham County.  Hazard Mitigation is “any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards”. The Effingham County Mitigation Plan is essential for the preparedness of Effingham County and also qualifies all government entities within Effingham County for Federal Assistance in the event of a disaster.

 

Public Notice

A public kick-off meeting to review Effingham County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan update requirements and process will be held on November the 1^st 2012 at 6:30 pm.  The meeting will be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room, located at 601 N Laurel Street  Springfield in the Administrative Complex.  Citizens are invited to attend and participate in the planning effort.  For more information, please contact Ed Myrick  Director of Emergency Management for Effingham County at 912.754.8200 

 

November the 1^st 2012 at 6:30 pm. 

 

Commissioners Meeting Room

601 N Laurel Street 

Springfield, GA  31329

 

EEMA is pleased to announce that the Effingham County Board of Commissioners approved the 2012 – 2016 Emergency Operations Plan. This Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) describes the management and coordination of resources and personnel during periods of major emergency.

 The purpose of the EOP is to establish comprehensive, countywide, all-hazards approach to incident management across a spectrum of activities including prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The EOP incorporates best practices and procedures from various incident management disciplines - homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, firefighting, hazardous materials response, public works, public health, emergency medical services, and responder and recovery worker health and safety - and integrates them into a unified coordinating structure. The EOP provides the framework for interaction with municipal governments; the private sector; and NGOs in the context of incident prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery activities. It describes capabilities and resources and establishes responsibilities, operational processes, and protocols to help protect from natural and manmade hazards; save lives; protect public health, safety, property, and the environment; and reduce adverse psychological consequences and disruptions. Finally, the EOP serves as the foundation for the development of detailed supplemental plans such as the Debris Management Plan, Donations and Volunteer Management Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan and Mass Casualty Plan just to name a few that are in the planning phase.  “We are extremely pleased that the Emergency Operations Plan for Effingham County has been completed and even more excited that the plan was approved by the Board 

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency has not received reports of any distressed fish since July 5^th and waters levels are increasing; therefore we are lifting our advisory on the Ogeechee River.  We would like to remind everyone in Effingham County that the Ogeechee River is classified as a fishing river, not recreation and that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division still maintains fishing advisory for the Ogeechee River due to high Mercury levels.  “The Guidelines for Eating Fish from the Ogeechee River recommends limiting consumption of Largemouth Bass, Red Breasted Sunfish, Snail Bullhead, Channel Catfish, and Spotted Suckers to either one meal per week or one meal per month” stated Ed Myrick, EMA Director for Effingham County.  It has been reported that the EPA and EPD will continue to collect ambient data on mercury concentrations in water, sediments, and fish.  “We will continue to monitor the Ogeechee River and ask that citizens report any distressed fish or other concerns to the Emergency Management Agency at 912-754-8200. 

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency still maintains the Ogeechee River advisory until further notice.  The U.S. Geological Survey has the water levels for the Ogeechee River at 2.14 feet as of today, which is below normal for our area.  “I was advised that the bacterial disease columnaris and aeromonus was a naturally occurring bacterium in the Ogeechee River as in any river caused by environmental stress, what is still unclear is what made the fish susceptible to this naturally occurring bacterium.  It has been thought that low water flow and warm temperatures could have been the multiple factors that weakened the fish to the point that they were susceptible to the disease; those factors are still in place” stated the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency Director Ed Myrick.   Even though we do not have any current reports of dead fish being located, we are still getting sporadic calls from concerned citizens regarding the safety of the Ogeechee River. Considering all the factors in place including the total mercury fish tissue contamination report, the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency has determined to continue the Ogeechee River Advisory until conditions improve.

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency is once again issuing an advisory for the Ogeechee River.  During the July 4^th celebrations, the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency responded to and collected a 3 foot dead catfish from the Ogeechee River approximately 10 miles south of the GA Hwy 119 Bridge along the Sandhill Road area, which appeared to be the victim of the Columnaris disease by the trademark “blisters”.  “It is apparent that the pollutants in the Ogeechee River are continuing to be an ongoing problem, I sympathize with the businesses that depend on the Ogeechee River for income but we must look after the health and safety of everyone involved” stated EMA Director Ed Myrick.  The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency is advising all citizens to avoid the Ogeechee River; advising against swimming, fishing and consuming any fish that may have been caught.

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency will re-open its residential cooling station on July 3rd from 12 noon to 6 pm at the Effingham County High School. Anyone who has any special needs or request is encouraged to call the Effingham County Emergency Operations Center at 912-754-8205.

**RESIDENTS IN THE BERRYVILLE AREA** Your water should be flowing, make sure you flush your house water for 20 minutes prior to use so that the chlorination can touch the inflow of water. You can contact the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency with concerns or problems at 912-754-8200. We can forward your issue to the appropriate personnel. Thanks.

 

Effingham County was hit with a severe thunderstorm in several areas throughout the night, causing debris on roadways and power outages.  Georgia Power has estimated that 12,000 Effingham County customers are without power at this time from downed power lines and are working diligently to have those services reconnected, a complete assessment of the damage and a timeline to restore services should be available by this afternoon.  The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency encourages anyone with a special need or request to please call the Emergency Operations Center at 912-754-8205 or the Emergency Management Agency Director, Ed Myrick at 912-754-8200. 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the American Red Cross and the Effingham County School Board will be opening a Cooling Shelter at the Effingham County High School located at 1589 Hwy 119 South in Springfield.  The Cooling Shelter will be operational from 12 noon today until 6pm due to the overall power outages in Effingham County coupled with the expected rising temperatures.   Any citizen with special needs or request is encouraged to call the Effingham County Emergency Operations Center at 912-754-8205 or the Emergency Management Agency Director at 912-754-8200.

 

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will be holding a public hearing at 7:00 pm on Tuesday June 12th, 2012 at the Effingham County High School located at 1589 Highway 119 South, Springfield, GA. 31329.
The Purpose of this hearing will be to present and receive comments on the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for King America Finishing, Inc. The permit allows the discharge of treated wastewater into the Ogeechee River near Dover, Georgia.

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The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the Bulloch County EMA and the Bryan County EMA is lifting the Ogeechee River advisory. This action is a direct result of water samples that were tested, the EPD states that the river meets water quality standards for its designated use. The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency will continue to closely monitor the quality of the Ogeechee River. If anyone observes anything of concern in the Ogeechee River, they are encouraged to notify the Effingham County Emergency Management Director - Ed Myrick at 912-754-8200 

 

The test results from Auburn University showed that the bacteria Columnaris and Aeromonas have been detected in the Ogeechee River south of King America Finishing.  The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that the problem is compounded by rising water temperatures and low water levels.  The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency is now working closely with the Effingham County Health Department to determine the next step to best protect the citizens of Effingham County.  We understand and sympathize with the citizens and businesses that have been affected by the bacteria in the Ogeechee River, but want to stress that swimming, fishing and/or consuming fish from the Ogeechee River is not advised at this time.

 

With our surrounding area under a Tropical Storm Watch, the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency wants to advise everyone to take special precautions over the next couple of days.  “We will be monitoring Tropical Storm Beryl as the storms forecast is to move through our area late this evening and will continue to affect our weather until Wednesday morning.  We would like to advise everyone to secure any items around their residence that may be affected as the winds increase” stated EMA Director Ed Myrick.  Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to make landfall just South of Chatham County and then is expected to turn north.  The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency asked that residents call 911 to report any fallen trees and to stay clear of any down power lines. read more ...

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency has upgraded its advisory concerning the Ogeechee River.  We have confirmed that we have located a handful of dead fish towards the North end of Effingham County.  We unfortunately advise everyone that swimming, fishing and consuming fish from the Ogeechee River is not advised at this time.  We are working closely with surround Counties, DNR, EPD and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to determine the cause and hope to have the test results back soon.  Anyone who observes any distressed fish are encouraged to call the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency at 912-754-8200.

 

The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency is advising everyone to use caution around the Ogeechee River at this time. “The Environmental Protection Division, The Department of Natural Resources and Auburn University are investigating a small handful of dead fish around the Hwy 301 and Hwy 24 crossover, we should have those results back by the end of the weekend” stated EMA Director Ed Myrick. Anyone observing dead fish in the Ogeechee River is encouraged to call the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency at 912-754-8200 or email at eema@effinghamcounty.org

 

For the past few days the National Hurricane Center has been monitoring the potential for yet another tropical system to possibly impact our region later Friday through the Memorial Day weekend, nothing that we should worry about right now. There is an unorganized,elongated area of low pressure, stretching from portions of the Bahamas, southwest across the Florida Straits and Cuba ongoing at this time. The latest guidance all seems to point toward developing a more organized low pressure center from the system across the Bahamas by later tonight and early Friday. This system may become more tropical in nature as we enter the weekend and the upper low to the west begins to weaken. Models then move this system northeastward up the U.S. coast to somewhere off the Carolina coastline late Friday and early Saturday. The latest models then move the system southwestward, back down the coast toward the south GA and north FL region later Saturday and Sunday. This overall scenario has been pretty consistent with the last few model runs. However, as you can imagine, there is still a great deal of uncertainty between the various models with the exact timing and strength of this potentially developing system. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

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The Effingham County EMA wants to stress to everyone the importance of being prepared as the upcoming hurricane season kicks off.  Forecasters are predicting a slow season this year but acting EMA Director reminds everyone that it only takes one.  "Based on the new surge maps, my biggest concern when speaking of hurricanes this year is flooding" stated Ed Myrick, acting EMA Director for Effingham County.  "There are still a great deal of people who say that it can't happen to us, but it already has and it will again".  The Emergency Management Agency encourages everyone to become familiar with evacuation plans, the county emergency operations plans for shelters and create their own safety plans.  Anyone needing additional information is encouraged to call the Emergency Management Agency at (912) 754-8200 

Information Update... read more ...