FLOYDCOUNTYGA.ORG
Floyd County Government Online

For Immediate Release

Date: August 8, 2007
Contact: Joy Peterson
Floyd County Public Information Officer
706.378.2000
petersonj@floydcountyga.org

FLOYD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPENS COOLING STATIONS

Rome , Ga. – Effective immediately, Floyd County Emergency Management has opened several cooling stations around the county in efforts to provide relief from the extreme heat to those that are in need.

The cooling stations are open at the following areas:
Anthony Recreation Center, located behind Garden Lakes School in West Rome Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday  
Gilbreath Center , located off Maple Street next to the old Lindale Mill 
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday –Saturday
Fielder Center, located on Crane Street next to Southeast Elementary School in East Rome
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday
Hamler Center , located on 300 West 3 rd Ave Rome
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and closed on Saturday
Coosa Valley Regional Services Department will be leaving the Senior Citizens Center off of Riverside Parkway
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday

For specific directions and phone numbers to each location, please call the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority at 706.291.0766.

Rome-Floyd Emergency Management would also to remind people of the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Heat Exhaustion - which are cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion.  Body Temperature will be near normal.
Heat Stroke – Hot, red skin, changes in consciousness, rapid weak pulse, and rapid shallow breathing.  Body temperature can be very high – sometimes as high as 105 F.  I f a person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet, otherwise it will feel dry. 

“People need to slow down avoid strenuous activity,” said Scotty Hancock, EMA Director.  “If you must do strenuous activity, do it in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.  Stay indoors as much as possible.  If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.” 

Other tips include:
Electric fans do not cool the air, but help evaporate the sweat which will cool the body.   
Wear light colored clothing
Drink plenty of water regularly and often.  Your body needs it to keep cool. Remember to drink water, even if you are not thirsty. 

“We are under a heat advisory and we must take this issue seriously,” said Hancock. .  If you have elderly family members please keep a check on them.  Remember to also take care of your pets and do not ever leave a pet alone in a vehicle for any amount of time during a heat wave such as we are having the animal will die in only minutes.  Please make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water to drink to keep them hydrated.”

The area The Area Agency of Aging has a resource number that the elderly can call to handle heat related issues. Please call 706-802-5506 for more information.                      

"At the present time, 911 has not received any major heat related calls and we would really like to keep it that way,” said Hancock. “It is very important that we check on our neighbors, especially the elderly.”

For more information on Floyd County Emergency Management, call 706.236.5002 or visit www.floydcountyga.org .

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 Phases of Emergency Management
The following represents the four phases of emergency management practiced to protect life and property from the effects of emergency situations.

Mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery

  Mitigation

  Mitigation refers to those activities which may reduce the   occurrence of an emergency or the effects of a natural or   man-made disaster. Large amounts of damage can be   prevented if the time is taken to anticipate and plan for these   events. The impact of a disaster can be lessened as well as   the speed of the response and recovery processes if   planning is completed.

Mitigation activities include legislation, inspections, building codes, risk mapping, land use managment, dams and levees, structural changes and/or a local hazard mitigation plan. A preventable measure, for instance, is to enforce the local building codes to minimize injuries and/or deaths due to electrical fires, falling decks or carbon monoxide poisoning.

   Preparedness

   Preparedness actions exist prior to an emergency to support    and enhance disaster response. Evaluating which disasters    are most likely to occur in Floyd County and formulating    written plans outlining the response to each event is the first    step. All emergency response personnel from all disciplines    are then trained on these plans using test exercises    designed as a trial for the effectiveness of the plans.

Preparedness activities include issuing forecasts and warnings, mandatory evacuations, coordination and contingency planning, local emergency operations plan, budgeting and purchasing equipment, recruitng personnel and training exercises, performing vulnerability analysis and educating the public.

Another important aspect of preparedness is community awareness. It is vital that our residents know what hazards may affect their community and how to prepare for the effects. Floyd County EMA offers a wide range of classes for individuals, civic groups, community associations and day care providers. Anyone interested in receiving information concerning these classes may contact Scotty Hancock, Director of Emergency Management at 706-236-5002 or e-mail hancocks@floydcountyga.org.

  Response

   Response activities address the immediate and short-term    effects of an emergency or disaster. These activities are    designed to provide emergency assistance to victims of the    event and reduce the likelihood of secondary damage.    These  activities include activitation of an emergency    operations  center, issuing public communications and    warnings, setting   up a mobile communications unit,    performing damage  assessment, offering individual    assistance and providing  temporary housing or shelter.

All first response agencies within Floyd County including the County Sheriff's Office, County Police Department, E-911 Center, Rome-Floyd County Fire Department, and City Police and Fire Departments have responsibilities in the County Emergency Operations Plan known as Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Long before the disaster or emergency the agencies with responsibilities in the plan train on what they would do during all types of disastrous events. Click here for a complete list of Emergency Support Function Responsibilities.

While government agencies are responding to these types of events, local Community Emergency Response Teams are providing aid to their communities. Learn more about CERT.

  Recovery

  Recovery is the final phase of the emergency   management cycle. Recovery continues until all   systems return to normal, or near normal. Short-term   recovery returns vital life support systems to minimum   operating standards. Long-term recovery from a disaster   may go on for years until the entire disaster area is   completely redeveloped, either as it was in the past or   for entirely new purposes that are less disaster-prone.

Recovery efforts must first look at human needs such as food and shelter. The needs are met by both government and volunteer organizations who have pre-determine plans in place to respond to major disasters and emergencies. The Floyd County Office of Emergency Management has plans in place for the deployment of volunteer organizations in the event of a major disaster such as the American Red Cross, CERT and The Salvation Army.

Click here for a complete list of Floyd County Shelters.