Emergency Manager is the official magazine of the Georgia Office of Homeland Secunty-Georgia Emergency Management Agency Lisa Janak, Editor Honorable Sonny Perdue Governor Mike Sherberger 01rtJCtor Lisa Ray Public Affalfs Dlfector Ken Davis Public Affalfs Officer Buu Weiss Public Alfalfs Coordmator Lisa Janak Mult1-Med1a Coordinator Kandice Weech Web Coordmator Katherine Huggins Constituent Srrv1ces Coordinator Published by the Georgia OHlce of Homeland Secunty-Georg1a Emergency Management Agency Post Office Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316 PHONE 1-800-T R Y-OE MA (404) 635-7000 FAX (404) 635-7205 Web site www.ohs.state.ga.us You are welcome to submit original artJcles for publication consideration. The deadline for the fall issue Is August 15. From the Director Change is the Only Constant ,_,I. .:.;,,... . ill Ga1ls asru1dy ob\enc:d, M\V/c alway\ O\'C:r<..~tinmc the thangc tllJI will occur in 1he next 1wo yt-ars and undcrc:stim:nc the ch.111gc: 1ha1 will occur in 1hc nc\t ten." fo pu1 Mr. GJcc<.' com- ~ ment into pcrspcclivc, a dcc.1dc .1go. who could lu\'c imaginl-d that we: would be carrying a single wireless devicc 1ha1 provide~ phone. lnternct and e-mail cap.1bilitiC:\, no1 10 mention 1001~ co help us organiLe our ,1ddrC:\\ book-., c.ilcndm .md t.isk liscs? Yee. those of us who have embraced this ncw ccchnology would probably find i1 difficult 10 function wichour i1. One thing i!. certain: Change i\ .1 com1.111t. Within the emergency management community, change 1s no1 only acccp1c:d, but wc:komed. Shonly after 9/11. 1he Department of I lomdand Security was csrablishcd 10 prov1dc a unifying core for the \.bl n.monal network of organia1ion\ and insmutions involved m )Ct.unng our nauon from bo1h natural md man-made incidents. We embraced 1his organiL.ing principle on 1hc \Cate level as wc:ll and otablished the Georgia Office of I lomc:land Security. The fact that change h.lS come to 1hc (,corgia Emcrgcncy Management Agency (GE~I/\) i\ no ~urpri~c:. With the threat> to our nation and \lace ch.1ngmg over 1hc: past few )'C3~. our pnonucs have .ii~ changed. Our funding mc;ims have cenamlv changed. And with chat. our name has changed. GEM;\ has been merged into 1he ~me'~ Office of I lomc:l.ind Security, Jlong wi1h the Gcorg1:a lnformauon haring :and Analym Center (G ISAC). The: muh i~ the Georgia Office: of Homc:l.1nd Securuy - Gcorgia Emergency f\ fanagement Agc:ncy (0115-GLMA). \V/ich our re-branding c:Erom. you will see a new look on our Web me, our lcuerhc:td, our vt'hiclc:s, and even hear chc change in the W3)' We an'1wer the phone:, As we have forged ahead over the last ~cveral months, i1 has bccoml' clc:ar cha1 our new identi- ty accur:udy depict~ chc ongoing l.'voluuon th.u h;ti marked our profc:ssion sincl' 1hl' Cold War and che days when we: operated under 1he Civil Defense umbrella. Our name change nor only underscores the time<, 1ha1 we live in, but abo reflect~ the consis- tency and compacibility of our cfTom with cho~e of chc: federal government and our state counter- parts. h also validates 1he Mall-haurd~" approach chac Mimulacc:<. coll.1boracion and allows us 10 more effccli\'dy identify and c:vahmc thre.m. and be bcuc:r prepared 10 respond. lk assured 1hac wi1h our new name comes a rcnewcd commicmc:nl ofservice: ro our citizens and a reidinCM 10 venture down nC\\ roads. 1 Summe r 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER Under the Dome T he g.l\d, in the 1lou\e and \r onny Perdue's election in 2002. the I louse joined the Senate under GOP le.1dersh1p when the Gener.ii As~emblr con\'ened. The rransformauon also \;JW 1he decuon or Rep. or Glenn Richardson of Dalla' a\ Speaker the I louse, the third person to hold the post in three yC"ar), in )harp (.Ontr.t\t to the nearly ~0-ye.ir uninterrupted tenure of former peaker Tom \ lurph\". The 2005 2006 term rcOectcd a ncarrccord rurno\'er m membership. with 44 Ill:'\ rcprcscncau\'es and 21 ne\\ \eoator<> taking their oath or onice. It w;u the Georgia Crcner.al A\M'mbl} ' largC"\1 group of frC'lhmen lawmJkel"\ smce the fim postWatergate election of 1 9~4. l...lwmaking and public policy I) about procC\s, however. and the 2005 \C'>sion 1urned out to be comiderabl) more producthe and prolific rhan man) observer.. h.ul predicceJ. In fac t, ne.trl) 3.000 bill\ and re,oluiion\ were droppt.J in the I lome .md en.ue hoppers rhi\ )e\Sion. far above the average or 2.500. About 15 percent of the mc;uure~ introduced cleared both hou~~ and went m the Cro\'ernor for his signature. g.1 1 reforms The bill of greatest mterC\t co the Georgia Onice or Homeland Se(.untyGrorg1a Lmergem:y Man.igcment Agen0 (OHS-G I MA> this yeJr \\,t~ 1IB 170, a comprehensive measure th.it reform~ and update> Gemgia\ 9-1-1 law. Concern .1bou1 9-1-1 reform hJ) been a looming 1\suc: for \everal ve:m and was iniually addre\s(..J 1n 1h" 1c:rm m JIB 148. which wa~ designed to ensure or accountability in the u~e 9 l I foe:,, 0 11 -Gl:.MA successfully opposed the bill. however. became 1t would have required financial rc:pom to be \Ubmiucd co the .tgc:ncy. although 1t h.u no rc:gul.uor or enforcement power<> Jnd j, not qualified m perform audits. A )CCOnJ bill, JIB 174, addrc,,cJ c..cll phone: billing procedures. but \\,L\ 'iddincJ in fuvor of lhe broader 11 B 1...0, ~ptlmured by Rep. John Lunsford of McDonough. The bill clanfies the term "place: of primary u~e" a~ the cu\1tm11.:r\ home or business addr~. and allows Zip Code 1 4 .md Federal Information Proc~\ing \ptem (FlP ) codes to be u~ed for clanfie.won. The purpose i~ 10 emurc 1ha1 1hc revenue\ from dic 9-1-1 fee are carm.uked for 9- 1- 1 ~rv1ccs m thc counf} ''hcrc the cmwmer 11\'es. It also rcquiro local gu\unmem\ m file rc:pom on 9-1-1 collc:c11on' and cxpcnso 10 the \late: .iudnor. In addition. multi-juri\C'\ion, \\J!i the product of c:xh.tu\l1vc di!>CU$\ion and debate Jmong reprcsent.lli\'e) or OHli-G r ~ I A. rhe A~~oc1J11on Count) Comm l\~ione" of C.eorgi.1, local 9-1-1 m.10.1ger\, .111d rcprC'>c:lllatl\'C\ of V3riOU\ wirdc" \en ice providers. A wmpanion mc:a\ure e)tJblhhcJ a ~pec1.i.l leg"lauvc: ~rudy commmcc, '' h1Ch \\ill cumine other i~uo. including the U\C or 9- 1-1 rC\'CflUC) 10 fund lhc purchJ\1.. of mceropcr.iblc: comm11n1catmll\ equipment and the levy of 9-1- 1 fc:n on p~1laid '' irde~ plans. The: panel will procnt it~ rcptm lCl the 2006 General \.'\Cmbly Ill January. 3-1 -1 eyed, Levi's Call changes blocked t\ bill .iimed ar letting lcxal officiJb dip into 9-1 l coffel') co help fund J-1-1 non emergcnC\' government phone ser\'ice rai\ed \()fie cauuon naS' and \\a\ hdtl Ill commmcc. B I I3 would ha\'c p.wcJ the w.1)' for \Urplu.' 9-1- I re\'ellUe\ r.ti~ed h) locJI go\'crnment.~ 1hJ1 fully fund their cmt.rgency communication~ W\tcnH through ?-1- I fee) lo be ~hificd to che non cmergencv operations. Although there h \Upport for 1he crc.iuon of ~-1-1 ~tems, there: I\ \trong oppo\11100 re> di\'erting 9-1-1 rC\enuc' hl\\Jrd Jn~ other project, C\en high pnorm iniriati\'C\ 'uch as interoperable (.Ommumcuions. ~eral communitie. around 1hc: \tJte arc m the prcxe'' of ~ubli,hing J-1-1 \)'\terns 10 handle non-emergency R>(jUe~t' for as\i\rancc and information Anoihcr bill rh.it \parked ctmcern w.i.' H B -94, a larc cntry in rhe lcgi,lali\'c derby th.it would h.i\'e apandcd G1..-orgi.1's le\ i\ (all mMmg child progr.1m m include: \eJrchc' for \OOlC: m1,smg aduli\. l'he mt.'3\Ure drew qu1tk opposiuon. however, hcc.tu\c: it ha.\ the: potential m der.t1l the .1grcement bcl'\'(.'Cn 01 IS-GLMA. the <.,Rf, EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 2 and the (,corg1.1 \\,oc1.11ion of BroadcJ..\ler~ under \\ hich the Ic\1!1 Cill program opc:r.HC\ l.e, ' ' Call I\ prcd1cJ1cd on 1hc volunt3f} agr<'.cmClll or thl' \l.U<'. 0 S hro.1tlc.i~1t'r.. m Jtr m1,,111g ch1IJn:n Jlercs. whkh .:ire 1-.\uc:J on 1hc Jvcrage of oncc a month. RroJdc.mcr' \\tiulJ likeh h.ilk .ti airing the aJdi1ionJl mh~ing JJulr alem rhe bill rcmamcd Ill comn1111cc \\hen the ~~\Ion aJ1ournc:J. Pardons and Paroles arrests S1a1e Pudon\ anJ i>.uole officer.. will be givcn foll arrc:,1 powcf\ undl"r H B .?89. The oflicer' arc PO\ l-cer11fic:J, but were: rt.">tncted co .trre\ling only the parol~ they supc:rvt\c un1il l.m yc-ar when their .urc<.t power\ were temporarily expanded during the G-8 Cunfcrcncc JI \c.1 hl.mJ. rhc l.iw pa,~cd chi, )'car will m.1kc the expanded arrC\t .m1homy pc:rm.lllcnt.1llowmg the Pardom and Parole\ worker\ to .t_\\l\t other SIJtC law cnlorccment agcm:ie<., J' wdl ;t( loc.il police anJ ,hcriO, Jep;mmcnt~. Public building mapping t\ pmpo\al 10 require the computcritcd nupping of all public buildin& for U"<' by fiN rC\ponJcr~ i' cxpectc:J to be the \UbJcc1 of \tud\ h\ \I.Uc lawm.ikcr.. 1hi\ n:.ir. \B 2.B ''ould alw mandJlC 1h;i1 0 11\ .(,l MA dc\'clop anJ maintain J dJtab.1-.e wuh thl\ 111forma11on. The hill ra1'c' a number of quC\t1on\, however. not the lea\I of which i' 1he cost of undertaking \uch J project l'he ~pon\Or 11.1~ agrcc<.".11 commi"ion, b111 \teppcd a'idc in 1he wake ofcontrmerw about rc1aining hi~ F~\tA pm1. Exceptional EMA Howard Willis, Augusta-Richmond County T o the n311on. Richmond Count\' h perhaps bt', Richmond Coumy also h.u the dubious distinction of being No. 2 in hu- ardous chemical production in Georgia. Nc\tlcd in rhe Sa\;mnah River Valley. Richmond County 1~ m'>Cepiible m flood ing, panicularly 1he older mfr.i.\lruccure in downtown t\ugmtJ. However. ( 'h1ef I loward Willis. d1rcccor of the t\ugm1a Richmond Count\ l- mcrgencv Management AgenC) (EMA) and 1111cnm director of 1he t\ugu\ta R1chmonJ fire Dcputmcm, 1s more concemc:J about ac'"i denu involving h;u;irdom m.11eriah within the councy or in nc;irh\ \ou1h ( .uolma. where 1he a\"annah Raver \11e (SRS) nudcir power pl.mr i\ loc.uc:J. Richmond Coumy\ economy t\ grow ing. and where econonm: Jevclopmem goo. people follow. t\ccording 10 Willis. the councy\ popuhtion h.1.\ mcn:a\cd 10 250.000, up fmm 200,000 I5 ytar.. Jg<>. On weekdays 1he population \Wclh w 375.000 as comm111tf\ nuke rhcir \\,1y lo Augusras sprawling mdmmal complexe\. Unbeknownst 10 them. the~ mil)' he \hJr ing che road with h:u.udous nwerial\ that arc being 'hipped through the COlllll)'. Tramuranic nudtar W.blC 1s regularly tran:.pom:J through Rachmlmd County from R..\ co 3 fcder.il facilm 111 C.ul,bJJ. NC'\ M~1co. as pan of the \X'a\le f<,0l.11ion Pilot Plant cleanup program. In addumn, l') freight trains chug through the heart of the county each Jar. \Ome carrying pmen tiallv dangerous cargo. Hazardou' ma1cri.1' i' not onl) on the ro.ic.h .ind r.til\\Jy\: it i, produ'-c:J 111 tht county's numerou' m.mufacmnng faciliue\. Pcx,I chemicals \Ucha' chlorine and 'odium hydroxide, as wdl as anhydrous ammonia .md ammonium n11ra1e, whic:h .ire 11\CJ to make fcniliicr~ and l'xplo,iw\, Jrc com- Chief Howard Wllhs. AuoustaRichmond County EMA monl}' producc:J. while ni1rou' :u.id. \UI phunc acid and hydrochloric acid arc com mon b\ product\ of the coumy\ paper milk All rhe)C chemicals could mean a recipe for d~1cr. Fonun.11cly, howc;'\cr, Chief Willis works hard 10 develop good rcla11omhip' w11h inJus1ry official\, a panner<.lup 1ha1 has c"ol\'cd o'er 1hc pa..11hr" decade\. 'Thirty-three year<> ago. industry didn't w.rn1 us on-\itc." says \'\/illi~. "Now, we talk 10 '>afe1y man:tgef\ regularly. \'\/e've taken 1ht barricf"I down." I he proof i:. in the pudding. Mmt indmme<> m Augusca or jIDt over the border 111 \ou1h Carolina rhar ~mrc or use danger ou' chemical' belong 10 the Communu' Awarcne\\ and Emergency Respon\e (CAI R) group. which works "uh local government official . hospirals and fi~t rt'\ponder.. to prepare for and rc'pond to a huardou\ m.itcnal~ incident. The group sends emergency l'C'ipon\C team~ and equip ment \Uch ,\\ chemical fo.im. which c.in supprc~ a possible cxplo~ion or lire. or pro 1ec11,e chemicJI ~uit~. upon reque\I. \lcctin~ arc held quJrtcrly. RcprocnlJlive~ from major comp.min .ii\(> an: on 1he Local l:.mcrgency Planning Committee. which ~ervc J( a lia1~on between re,iJcnL~. governmem and inJu,. 1ry in planning emergency response ac1ivi 3 Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER lies. furthermore, all indumies tile chemic.!l invenrory rcpom with the AugustaRichmond County EMA. "We: have: a good ceam of people. whether its industry or govc:mmcnr," 'i.3)'\ \X'illis. "I can - and do - call on chem day or nighr." In face, he called on 1hem at around 2:30 a.m. on January 6, 2005. after learning a Norfolk Southern Corp. freight train carrying poisonous chlorine gas went ofron a sidetrack and i.lammcd into :i parked rrain near the Avondale Mill~ plant in Graniteville, Sourh Carolina. The impact caused chrce cars 10 derail and begin leaking and a subscquenc 14-car pileup. Because chlorine v:ipor i\ heavier chan air, the gas remained close 10 the ground and did nm dissipate. Thb proved deadly for some workers who fled the plant immediately after che crash. " \Vic los1 nine people," Willi.~ laments. MBur if ic were durtng 1he day. we could have lose hundreds." Approximately 5.500 people within the 1wo-milc Mho1 1onc:" :iround chc acci- dent were evacuated for m.-arly three weeks. Arca ho~pirals were quickly fllk-d wich more than 250 people who were 1rca1t.-d for exposure co chlorine g:i.~. In the early morning hours of January 6. 2005, a freight train carrying chlorine hit a parked locomotive and derailed in GranlteVJlte, South Caroltna. creallng a massive pileup (top, nght bottom right). Poisonous chlorine gas began leakmg. resullmg in nine deaths and the evacuation of more than 5.000 people. Six hazmat teams from South Carolina and Georgia were called tn The CAER group was at the scene wirhin 45 nunu1cs, $3}'S Willis. T hen Aiken Counry herifT Mike Hunt requested Willb' 3.\Si\1ancc coordin.uing local, Mate and federal agencies. "It took a 101 of coordination." !>3)'!> Willi~. He was in Granittville for nine days, mostly working wirh ha7.-mat teJms. Cartoon by Ed Westbrook, Jasper County EMA Director O HS-GEMA Area AJ l-hazards Council Granc EvaJuarion Team EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 "My job was co ~upporr them and make sure chcy had chc proper equipment. food ... whatever 1hey needed," ~y~ \Villi\. Six ha1-mat teams from Georgia and South Carolina were: paired with local\, who knew the: arc:i. The crews worked 12hour ~h1frs cleaning up 1he me:, conducting housc-co-hou~ sweeps of 1he neighborhood 10 check for pcoplt' and shu1ting down power. They al.\o fcd pee~ th.u were inadvcrtencly left behind in the ev.icuacion fn:nL)' AJrhough he was voted by his peers as 1he ~ sc.~1 of the Best.~ an award given co emergency scrvkcs pcr;onncl 10 rt."Cogru.u: excc:pcional ~crvicc, Willis sa~ ht prefer; working behind the ~'enc\ and i\ quick w dcflc:ct any praise for his efforu. Instead, he commend~ the people with whom he works. ~we communicate rc:ally wc:ll.w he 53}"' - l1111 Janak 4 In Brief Top OHS-GEMA Posts Filled by Agency Veterans Two agency ve1erans have been promoied to rop leadership pom with the Office of Homc:land ccuriiy-Gcorgia Emergency M:magcmcni AgenC}' (0115GEMA). Charley English, of Fayeneville, h~ been named a.~btant dirc:cwr of the agency. Charlie Dawson, of Peach1rcc Ci1y. succeeds English as director of operalio n~. As as:.i~rant agency director, English will be responsible for chc day-to-day management of all aclivitics within OH GEMA, including opcralions, planning. finance. haard mitig;uion, grants management and terrorism preparedness. As director of opcraiions, Dawson will ~pccifically oversee planning. 1raining, fidd programs, school safecy. radiological emergency preparedness, 1hc s1:uc opcralions and 24-hour communic:uions centers and informacion 1cch11ology. English joined 0 11 -GEMA in 1996 as a pan of the Olympics planning 1cam, and has lxcn din.'.Clor of opc:raiions since 1999. He has coordinated the ~1a 1e's response to seven presidentially declared disasters :ind numc:rou5 SC:ltcs ofemergency issued by the Governor. A vet eran of cwo decades in public safety, he wa.~ responsible for 1he m.magement of Georgia\ I 0 regional police academics during his tenure with the Peace Otlit:e~ Stand.m.b and Training (POST) Council. Prior ro that, he worked wi1h a Clayton Counry law enforce- ment agency and served as a regional police academy dircc- 1or. l..as1 summer, he became one of 1he nation\ lirsc recipient~ of a master's degree in OHSGEMA assistant director Charley Enghsh (left) and operations director Charles Dawson (right) Homeland Securil)' under a Oper.uions Center. He left brieOy co ht-ad program sponsored by 1hc: u.. 1he Georgia Oepanment of Dcpanment of I lomdand eC\lriry and Tr:mspomuion's ll ERO progrnm and then conducted by the Naval 1>o'>tgraduate returned 10 0 11 -GCMA as field opera- chool. rioru director. Prior co joining O HS- Dawson beg<1n his can.-cr wuh 0 115- GF.MA, Dawson ~rved for 20 yelt)' and Central readinc\S of O HS-GEMA's S1.ue l\lichigan Univermr. Need Drives Unique Partnership Rcali1ing cherc i\ \lfcngth in number,, B.1ldwin, Ja,per, Putnam. Wa:.hington and Wilkin,on c.ouncic... .1long with the citie-. of Milledgeville and Sandcrwillc:, pooled their rt"ource\ to crc:.m: Oconee\ Regional H.&lmat .md Weapons of Ma~.. Destruction (\'\'MD) Rc:.pon'c: Tc:1m for Area 3. The c;onccpt ''~ the br;iinchild of Jasper County Emergency ~bn.igcmc:nt 1\gency (EMA) director Ed We~tbrook, ~sisted by Ba.ldwin Councy fire chief md EM1\ dir~tor Jerry smoke}" Vt-al. 1he idt-a \\l;l.l; co pool resour<.o .and per>nnd and rhcn work mgcrhcr 10 crc.uc 1he grant and .tpply," s.l)'S Vt"'.i.l. The H.11-m.ar/WMD Regional Tc.im \\'.l' origin.all)' fundcJ by ~cvcral combined The Oconee Regional Hai-mat and WMO Response Team demonstrates that great things can llappen when people WOfk together. grants totaling approximate!)' $616,000. lo dace, Arca J tll"'lt rc:\ponJcr' have l'C'Ccht-d wmc equipment, induding two decomaminacion vchic;I~. re<>pon\e rrailcl"'I. dC\.ttcd lighting .md gc:ncr.nor unit... protective: suit~. C\vo-line deconcaminarion uni1~. brc.aching apparnru' and moni1onng dcvicc\. The latest approved grant funding of s2n,500 will provide the ll"Jffi \\ ith d ha1-nur idencific.nion ')'\tcm and an imcroperablc communic.uions \chicle. "\X'c: .arc n:ry hJpf!f hue we an: -.1ill a work in pro~~.w "4p Veal. hrc:lightel"\ an- no\\ lxing tr.ained to hnome hu-mat technidans. Each coumy mu\t have .1 minimum of~;, rechnici.in' per juri~iction . rh~ technidam arc rcquin-d to complere 80 hours or tr.iining. Once: all the 1r.aining j, complete:. Arc:.1 .i will ha.\'C: approxima1dy 60 tr:Uned 1hnicians. Al~. rherc: will be additional pc:r wnnd u.iin<..J ar thr opcr.uion.11 lcvd. The regional re..pon'e team ha~ the 'uppon ;mJ J~\i\tJnce of more than 200 additional fire. emergency medical service.\ and law enforcemcnr ~rsonnd . 5 Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER Disaster Professionals Recognized at 2005 Governor's Emergency Management Conference Three emergency man.igcmenr Jgcncy professionals were recognized during 0 11 -GEMA's Governor\ Emergency ~lanagemcnt Conference, held April 27 29, 2005. ar 1he lmern:uional Trndc and Con\'ention Center in a\'3nnah. Cherokee County emergency manage mcnt specialist Robert L. Kennedy com pieced more than 200 hours of intensive training to become a Master Cenific51 fidd-ddivercd COUl'\e5. Once .1gain the conference was a huge success. with a record number of sponsors and aucndccs. Mark your calendars for next year's conference The da1~ for the 2006 Go\'crnor's Emergency Management Conference have been scheduled. Mark your calendars for ~lay 3 - 5, 2006. nie conference will .1gain be held at International Trade and Convention Ccnccr in a\'annah. Look for more details on tht' 0 11 -GEMA Web site ar www.ohs.srarc.ga.us. Governor Sonny Perdue presents DaYld Murphy with the Nell Holton Tratnlno Award (left) for hosung the most field-deltvered courses at the 2005 Governor's Emergency Management Conference. The Governor also presented Jesse Rusty Sanders with the Netl Holton Training Award for compleung the most training classes (mtddle). and he recogniZed Robert L Kennedy tor becoming a Master Certified Emergency Manager (fight). Columbia County MOC Gets Trial Run The Columbia Counry Mobile Operations Center (MOC) will be put ro thc test during a full-scale haz-mar rranspon:nion exercise in lare July. The exercise will involve the evacuation of approximately 28 Riverside Flementary School "'studcnu during a school bm haz-mat incident in order to mt the school's family rc:unific-.nion plan. The MOC will serve as the command post for 15 local, state and federal agcnc1n. The $448.620 st:ncof-rhe-an mobile 9- 1- 1 and incident command center \\a~ purcha.~d through a Homeland Security grant. n,e unit has the capacity ro hou.~ a supervisor and six disp;uchcrs and contains a variety of equipment to suppon difft>ttnt agencies. including weather .stations, rwo-way r.tdio communication systems. a high rc~olu1ion c.imcra. F.mcrgcncy Alert Some people have said Columbla County s MOC rides llke I cadilllc, but It contlins highly sophisticlted equipment. System activation equipment, mobile phone lines and additional interoperable radios for Arca 3 counties. "We arc very excited about the MOC ad its capabilities: said Columbia Count)' Emergency Managcment Agency director Pamela 1uckc:r. "This vehicle should eliminate interoperability issues bctwccn agencies during an incident.... EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 6 EMA Director Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 40 y1.-al"'I. Billy Miccham ha~ St"rved ~ Upson County's emergency management ;1gcncy director. \X/he1ht-r 1Jc111g a corn.ido, hurm:.mc llr flood. he has maimained J high lcvc:I commicmc:nr to the community. In honor or his year\ of~Cf\'ICC, :O. litc.ham r1.~iwd the 'lbom.urnn-Up~on Councy Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Aw.ud ar the Chamber'~ 58rh Annual Dinner last full. Ml've crvcd Up~on County all these yem bccau~ I enjoy helping the pc()ple of chc commun11y. working wich \'Oluntcc~ :md the dcpanment hc:ids or local governments." ).l)~ Mitcham. Government ()fficial~. busin~ leaders and emergency managemenr personnel attended the dinner in celebration of ~litcham~ pn.-srigiou~ :tw.ird. Tnomas1onUpson County EMA director Billy Miieham (left) accepts the Thomas1onUpson County Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award, whlcil was presented by Sheriff Don Peacock Heavy Duty Truck is Welcome in Ware County from left Ware County assistant hre chief Jesse Jordan. county manager Gall Boyd, county commissioner Marshall Monk. chairman Ralph Tyson commissioner Kathy OaVis comm1ssionerelect Louis Hemn. county Clerk Pam Gibson. and fire chief Jimmy Brown were on hand to receive the countys heavy rescue truck when 11 amved last fall \X~1rc: Counry\ he.ivy n:l>Cuc cruc.k. whic.h W:t!> purd1a\c:J through a U. . Dc:p:mmcnt of Homeland Security's Olllcc for Domestic Prcparedncs!> Homd.Uld ecuricy gr.me,'~ ru.e Ja.mc\ Middlebrook,, Conyer... ,i.; the county government rcprc\entative on the: 9-1-1 Roy James Middlebrooks Advi,ory Council. Middlcbroo~ j, J member of the :\d.mca Regional Commi'l.Sion. the Rockd.Uc Ki\\Jni~ Club. American lA:glon Pmt --. and the Georgia Peace OO'ice~ Association. I le alq) q:rv~ on the Rockd.1lc:/Dc:Kalb Farm Bureau board of di~"Ctor\, and i$ J charter mem~ of the Gcorgi.t t~\CKiJtion of Li" l!nforccmem Fir~arm\ lnstructo~. He will fill 1hc p<>-ition pn:viou)ly held by Clurlouc Na\h from (.;winneu Count). The Governor\ 9- I -1 Advi,ory Committee wa\ e'tabli,hed under Se11J1c: Bill 5..2. initially inmx.luc.eJ to permll 9- I I \urch.1rgc-. on wirclc:f cellular tdephon~~. igncd in10 law in April of 1998. the legi\l,uion 'hilted re.,pomibilicy for 9-1-1 training and or cquipmem Mand.trd\ to the Office: Homeland 5c:1;urity-Georgi.1 Emergency ~fan.tgement Agency (01 lS-GFMA). Advisory C-0mmirtee member. include rcrrc,entaCi\C) from che A...soc.i.uion Counc:v Commi,,ioner. <>f Georgia. the Gc:or~i.1 Municipal A~ociauon and 101.al government. OHS-GFMA dm~aor Mike 5hc:rhcrger M:f\e 3.~ cluirmJn of the Committee and 011 -GF.~ft\ 9-1- 1 coordinator Hain<: Sc:~ton ">c:rvci. .u the liaison to che Com mince. Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER Homeland Security Position Paper fJy Phillip Wrbher. Director Chatham County Emergency Mcmagement Agency Last fall. I an~dcd a roundtable disCU)Sion led by Department or Homeland c.-curiry Under Seema!) for Information Analysis Jnd lnfr:uiructure Prou:ction Fmnk Libutti. The comments. ~uggescions and issues broughc forward bv participanu arc '>imilar IO those broughr up in almost all homelJnd c.-curicy discimions I have mended \111cc October 200 I. The emergency rc.~pon~ communiry's pnm.iry concerns fall imo three main are:u. lntdligcnce information sharing and managemcm lncrcru.c or response capabil iry/ funding and dimiburion Delivery or scrvict'S Intelligence and information sharing and management In the fi r..t days following che terrorist attack or eptcmbcr 11 , 200 I, the emergency response: community met to ~ure each other and our neighbor.; chac we were ready tO respond tO whatever mar lay ah ~d. \Vic affirmed our commitment to share information and intelligence. Unfonunatcly, thi~ has met \\~th limir1..-d succc:ss. According co Under euctal")' Libutti. intelligence and information sharing and management mmt be delivered locally and is ~st accomplished through a formal organiation w11h full-time staff. tatc and federal officials have been more ~ucccs.\ful in chis arena by e<.tabli~hing the Georgia Information haring and Analysis Center (GISAC), whidt gathers. processes, and disi.cminatc~ intelligence. Ir' fuJl-1ime $CalT comprises personnel from Georgia law enforccn11:m agencies a~ well a\ rhe Office or Homeland Sccuricy-Gcorgia Emergency M.m.1gemcm Agency. GI AC's org:inil:ltional structure and oper:itional detJils arc available for m'iew. Using G ISAC as a model to e!.rahlish similar organizations on a regional level would help improve the efficiency or the information-~haring dTorts of the local rcspom.c community. One way to create regional G I ACs would be 10 have the Mate Phillip Webber. Chatham County EMA coordinate the staffing, direction and control. Another war would ht." to have foe.iii handle logi~tics, but include: a i,ratc reprcscnmive. Regardless, regional G ISACs should ht." t~cabli)hcd ;111d sr:ilTcd by local. smc: and fodc:r:il parmcrs that tr:iin. exercise and work C<>gcthcr co provide a $<.';unless delivery of service. Managing information is anochcr key area of interest. Although multiple public and private information m.magcmcnt sy~ tcms cxbr aero~ all disciplint-'S, a primary operating system ~imilar co the Joint Regional Information Exchange System URll:.5) should ht." adoptl'd. It ach11..-ved overwhelming success .1S the primal")' consolidated intelligence tran~mi)Sion m1..-dia and informarion management tool during 1he June 2004 G-8 ummit. Increasing response capability/ funding distribution Regional All-hJtards Councils arc respomible for improving response CJpability and providing recommendations on how to disseminate federal funck The~ councils bring togcchc:r communicy IC"Jders and key 1:011~uencc manJgcrs to develop prc:parcdn~. response and recovery strate gics for aJI disa5cers, both naLUral and manmadc, for their region. This bottom-up concepr has perfom1ed well primarily due to the n:Jlit)' that local responder\ weft' under-trai111..-d and under-equipped to meet their exi1>1ing area\ or ~ponsibil i ty. and consequently EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 unprepared to meet the demands or a po)t 911 I America. The local emergency responSt community has efficiently used federal grant doll.1rs to incn.~ r~pon~c capability. However. in ordt'r to maximi1e \.'ITc:cuven~ anponders and support ~rate and local resources nc:cQS.lry to pn.-vcnt, r~pond and recover from acb of cerrori'ITTl and orher disasrcr\. A lisr of gram rccipien tt. cm be found under "tcaturcad car on a \ot11hhounJ freight train. ju\t \t.-C onJ~ after 1he (.Jll1.1kcr informed 1he cJller ch;ic che I ownJe, Councy 9-1-1 / FmcrgcmC\ \lan.1gcmcnt (. cn1cr would report 1hc mcidcnc 10 1he r.ulroJd. the c.tllcr ydlcd 1h.t1 1he l.m wen conung off the track.. The momentum of J r.1ilro.1d train i\ :t\\~lmc. \ rcl.ui\'dr fa" cram. ''"h loaded cars, crushC\ C\'cnthing 111 it' ''t)' when 11 le.we. th<' lrJCk\. hfu.-cn of 1h1s trains 85 cJr<> were lo:tded when i1 derailed. Bedlam cnrncd. \red 1r.11.k, wen: ripped from 1hc tic' and rw1\ml like \tr:tnd\ 9 or wire. Rock., d11s1 and dirt created a huge lerhal doud thac darkened che sky around chc wreckage. Derailed cars Jug up 1he rail bed. and some C3l"S were pu\hcJ olTthe rail road nght-ol:way bv the sub~uent pile up and into tht' r:mh or nearb) home . Bcfo~ the tram came to a ~IOp. htl\\' c:-.er, emergency rcspon'<' \t'f\'icc-. (fire. 1a,, enforcement and ambulance~) \\ere dis- patched and en route to 1hc: \Cene. (all\ 1.mcd pouring mco the 9-1-1 center. ~lost caller' rcponcd soybeans evenwhere. Annwlly. wmc 60,000 railrnad car carrying huarJous matcnal pa~ through Lowndes Counry and ValJosra. Ahhuugh 1hc 9-1 I caller~ were unable to idcnufy any haardous material placards on the Jer.tilcd cars or any ~e~ coming from rhc ~J~. the I owndc' Cou111y 9-1-1/lmergcncy Managemenr Center wa~ not raking anr chance\. A nearby school was :ilcned to the po\sib1l11v or haZ:lrdous material, and Jdmini\lra10~ were urged to bring all srudenu and ~t.uT iruide until further norice. Incident Command was quickly ~1ab li~hed on ~enc, and che emergency opcr:t uons center was activated to suppon the on-~ene commander, to coordinate w11h the rJilroad and Georgia Office of I lomebnd ecurity-Gcorgia l:.mergency ~ lanagement Agency, and co keep local appomted .md elected officials informed. To everyone's relief. it was confirmed char no hazardous material was involved the der:ulcJ cm were carrying only soybeans. lhc scene quickly became one of ~carch and rescue to account for telephone workc" and oth..:~ who were aJong the crack.. Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER \X'i1h 1he .miv.il of J tr.ick' ;md reopen senior railro:id offi- the line. I lopper ci.il. 1he lnciden1 Cll' \\ere pu~hed lO Comm.ind evolved 1he \ide J~ "ork into .1 Unified crew~ laid 1r.1ck.s. Comnund sirucmrc. I he \U)hcan fhe local media rap1JI) J~enJeJ on 1he sue I lowe\'er, de.in-up ~Jn .is '" J.\ 1hc: rcpllu:- mem rr.11..ks wcrc: 111 the: I O\\ nde. Counl} pl.lee .. .mJ WJ\ .1 public informJtion whole lot eJ\ler ollicer had arrived on rhJn thl dc.111 up ~cenc: immediatd} of hat.udou' ctlm- ;af1er the lim rcpom mod111c th.11 Jl'e of the dcr.11lmeot ltl mon:n n\C \Cf\ICc~ '' responding .1ppmpna1cly and dTcuivdy. roJd, with I ownd~ Counry prov1d111g wh.11cver further \Upp<>rt was needed l"he lil")t pnonry 111 rcco\'ery was ro open 1he r.ul line. The r;iilm.1J brought in '' n.""tking crews. equipment .rnd supplie~ from mo~t of the "rcckage on the railroad righ1-of-w.1\. the min der.ulmem \\J\ re.illy jusr a big wreck for lt>n i' \W) high." 'JP rc:cireJ Vke ,\Jm. Conrad C. l .1urenb.11..hc:r, under.c:cre1Jry of 1..ommer1..e JnJ \;() \ \ .1dminim-.11nr. !'he lorct::.l~l for .in a1..tive \C:J\On i' bJsetl on .1 Mmuhidc1...id.tl" p.1ucrn. wh11..h mcteorologi\I' 'I.I} hJ' favored Jbovc:-normJI \C.t\oll\ 'inu 191)5 In 1:11..1, Jll hut two of th1. l.t\t ten \cJ\om h.t\e bc:c:n Jhon; norm:il. .md lour of 1hme vc.H' produ1..cd 111ne or more hurm.anc:,. \JOA\ .1ho 1..1tc\ the alN:ncc of a \lrong 11 \l1110 or I a '1i11.1 during the I.ma ll.llf of the \C.l\Oll .1\ .1 harhinger o( .m a1..tiH: yc.ir. The i.;urrcnt trend i' in ,[urp uintr.m to the hdo\\ normal ~J,ons recorded from 1970 to I')1)C( i11J1l.llC how hll\\ the: \Cil\llll will llC. . C1eorgi.1 j, \'Ulner.1hl1. 1n '""m' m.1k ing l.1nJIJll on both the t\tlJntit JnJ Guff 1.oam. Although mo\t of the ''rm' th.u hJve 1mpJ1.1cd 1hc \tJtC' 1...1mc from the Gulf: c.corgia\ t\d:intic rnJ\I ,, nm unmunc, even rhough 11 h.1, hcc:n I()"' ye.1r. ~incc :i major hurric.ine h;t\ m.1dc l.111dt:all .ilong that .irc.-.1. In 1:1e1. ,t,11e dimJtologi\t I).1\'IC.l ~roc.>k,bury "1p 1h1. \lt"'.tM>n, tht1 ,till h.i,t 'i\'iJ mcm ori~ of the hvpcr.1c1iw hurricme \C'.t\on of 2001. "hen 15 n.1mcd \tom1' formed in the \lonh \danric h.uin. E.idt JJy in Augu" and September \Cenml tu hring more rcpon~ of menJdng mnnu 1hrc.itcn ing the southc.i~t. Tropic.ii Storm) Bonnie. ~lermint .111J ~1.mhew, Jnd Humcan1.-.. Alex, Charley. Franc~. G:mon, Iv.in .md Je.mne imp.u..1eJ the Urmcd St~llC\, mggcnng 1hc n.iuon\ l.irgc\I narural-di~'ler rc\pon'c ( 'h.trlev, Fr.m1.c\, h .111 .md Jc:.mnt wcrc: m.11or hum c.111c~. d:1.$SificJ :u Catt.-gory ~ or .ibllll Hurri~.ine ~ll.1lc. In J C.11cgory ' \torm, maximum wmd \pt:C<.ls h11 at Jeaq 111 mile' per hour and d.imagc: i' cxtcn~i\'C', with \Olllc \trui.;tur.il danlJP,C' to \mall rniden1.~ and miliry huilJing,. han. ''i1h .i lift"\pan of l:! Jap. mengtltcneJ into a Catq?Or. 5 hurricane on 1hrcc \epa r.ltC' occ.i~io~ hclorc mJking it, licr1..c I.indfall nc;ar <..ulf Sho.11,, Abbam.1, J\ .t Category 3 qorm FluriJJ cnJcJ up t.iking mui.;h of the brum of \ 1othcr '\Jturt'\ t\iry. \X'hc-n ( 'h.lflt'), rr.lllCC\ Jnd Jc.-.111nc: \IJmmcJ llltO the Sunshine State:, thev c.m\CJ unpre"e Jcmed damage. \nd. ;although h.111\ C)e n1Jde bndfall in neighborinp. Al.tb.1m.1, it\ w1ntl~ nvagccl 1hc I lorida panh.indk The onh ocher \lJtc to have expericni:1."tl thi\ level of hurric-.inl' :icnviry \Ya\ Ic\a' rn 1886. Wh1k l'loriJa \\JS hardbt hir. Georgia wok more th.m ih ,h.trc ofl.m year\ tropi cJI t>c:Jtdown. I lurricam:s t:rancc~. IV;tn, and Jc.-.inne c.mi.cd more than S10 million d.un.1ge .1rou nd the Hare and left I 3 fatJh tic' in their \\Jkc- Smc- and local otncial~. and \oluntecr worke~. labored m the Gcurgi.i Office of I lomebnJ ccuriry(,eorg1.1 l'.mi:rgcnl\ M.in.igemcnt Agenl"\' (01IS-t.E.\li\) StJle operation\ center for 2.' day,. Unul 2001. Hurric.-Lne Andrew \\.l\ the modern \torm that all Atlantic hurn- i.;anc: '>l."J'om \\ere mC".uurcJ agaim1. Th.it 1991 killer \turm devaslJled wuth florid.i anJ ~ameJ S16.5 billion 111 d.im.igc. Bur 1hc 200-i ~cJSon~ cumularivc damage O\'cr,hadow\ char figure. The: N.uion.tl I lurri1...inc Center (NHC) in M1am1 C\Cimate~ the four major stonns cau' \'\ 111 \\c h.1,c ro 'ullcr chrough another 1lurmanc Andre\\ or HurricJnl h Jn? I lurricanc\ med to be dc,igr1Jtcd h\ J 'Y'rcm of l.1111udl" longirude. whith W.t\ J great wa} for meteomlog1\t\ ro 1rai.:k 1hem. Ho\\e\c:r, once the public b~.rn rc:nrving storm \\ an1111g\ .111c.l 1rying to keep lr.Kk of a pJrcicul.1r \mrm p.uh. thl\ qu1Ckly got confu,mg. A much ea\ic:r W\ll"m m track and remember \\J\ nc:cJec.l. In 19'; ' 1he Na1 ion.11 Wc.uhcr CX-rnce p1c.keJ up on 1he hatm of Na,.11 mc11:omlc>gbts of n.unmg \!Orn\\ after womc:n. I he lis1 fcJmn.-d onh \\Omc:n' n.rmn un11l 197'). when men\ JnJ women\ nam(') \\ere altc:rna1t-d foe.la\. the ll\l " m.11111.iineJ and upda1ed b, the \X'orld ~lctc:orologtcJI Organi1a11on. Bec.1u'c hurricane\ often o~..ur at the umc time, offici.1[, J.\',ign shon. Ji,tin1.ti\'e rum~ to the ~corm' 10 J\oid confu~ion among weather ~ta1iom, co.~cal b.nc\, Jnd ,hip~ .at ~.1. A \tOrm must \Ian a\ .1 troprt:JI depre,~ron Jnd moH' on 10 become J 1rop1C.1l \torm before rt j, given a name:. A \torm r\ gi\'en J n.1me once: "' wind~ rc.1eh .m rnremny of ~9 mph Six li\I ~ .ire mcJ in ro1.11ion for s1orm\ in the Atlantic. In .tddition to the Atl.rntic li\t of nam~. thc:rc .uc: 1en other li~rs correponJmg to mher \lorm-pmnc: rcgmm of the \\OrlJ. rhe.c lrm rot.Uc. one C:'Jth )'C:.U. The l i~1 for 2005 \rorm n.1mc:' wall nor be: rcu~ Until 2011. rhc name\ get rcc\'clcd cJch time 1he ll\t come<. up, ''"h one exccpt10n: storm\ \O de\ a~1J1rng 1hJ1 rcming rhc: nJmc r\ in.1pproprr.ttc:. In this O\t'. 1hc: nJmc: r' ukcn oO 1hc: li,t ,and another n.lme is used to rcplJlc: 11 f-or example:, there: \\ill nm he .mother I lurric;ine \nJn.....,, bc(;JU\C :\nc.lrcw ha\ been replaced h\' Alex on the: Ii" \XI athout further Jdo, hc:rc " the Ir~! of \rorm name, tor the: usxommg \CJSOn: Arlene Bret. Cind). Denni\, hnih, Franklin, Gen. I IJrvey. Irene. jo\c, KJtrinJ, Lee:, Maria, N.tte, Ophelia, Philippe. Ri1J, ran, I.tmmy, \'rncc: .mtl \'\film.1. By Buzz \~iss Public Affairs Coordi11111or 7alt~ 1Jiu qui& 111111 S ifyouiT rratlyfor '1umran~ pastm.1 I) All bu1 two hurricane KaJOru 0\-cr the pu1 dc:adc ha'-c bttn abo~ normal. Wlu1 ~re 1he two accptions? 01) I)9- :mJ 1002 b) WO I and 1002 1.:) 1996 and 1998 d) l 9'J9 and 1003 2) incc 1995, how many hurricanes ha~ formed each year. on average? a) 5.5 b) 6.0 c) 7.8 d) 105 .J) How would Georgia's long con1inental shelf affect the 11orm surge if a hurricane hi1 our cou1? a) h would reduce 1hc torm urge b) h woulJ incrusc 1hc ~torm surge c) h \\oulJ have no afTcct on the ~corm urge d ) h would prolo ng 1hc: ~torm urge 4 ) Wlu1 pm:cn1 of hurriaMrcla1c:d dca1h1 occur in inland aras? a) I 5 percent b) 22 pcm-nt c) 63 percent di 85 percent EMERGENCY MANAGER Summe r 2005 12 Lightning Kills: One tJ?ike, You're Out! By Km D1111is OHS-GEMA Public Ajfoirs Officer E'er\ \pring Jnd \ummer people throughout the United ' mes face Jn rn1..reJsed ri,k from 3 very d.mgerou\ and powerful wuru.'. ltghtnmg. \Vhilc at c.m mike \'CJr round. lightning\ pnm.m se.t\on here in GeorgiJ is sprang Jnd \um mer B~J On documented CJ.\O O\'el" tht p.ut _,O yc.ir... lightning kills an a\cr.igc c.Jf 6- people J vear an cht' U.5. \urpmangl)" 1orn.1doc'i c;Jmc Jn JVC'r.tge of 65 dcJtlu per )'e.1r and hurric.mes d3im an average of 16 de.uh' .111nu.1lly. 1lowc\'er. becJusc litthtning usualh d.1im\ onh one or two victim\ Jl a rnne, Jnd bc\.JUSC' lightning docs not c.tusc m.t\) dotruc;rion ldt in thC' ''a.kc of com.idoo or hurricJne'i, l1ghtn1ng gcneralh rct:cl\'C\ much I('\~ ;mcnraon thJn the more dt'>truc ti\'c wcathC"r-rclatcd killers. That. wuph:d with tht fact th.11 few people reallr undcr!>tand che danger\ of lightning Jnd don't au prompd) co protect their lives. properry .md chc live\ of orhcr., illmrrnte) thJc education i, 1ht kc) to olving the problem of risk) bcha,ior chat leads ro people bC'ang mm:k h~ lightning. Unfortunately. the ancrcase in the JffiOUlll of time people >penJ OUtJc.xm happens to coinc;1de with the month\ when thun1 d;ip of thunder bcfon: le.wing shelter. l)on'1 he fooled by sumhine or blue \ky! If it i' cloudy or oh1eus .ire obscuring your vi)1on, get imidc immcdi.udy. It i' .ilwav\ \.lier Ill t.tke prct:.tutions than to waic. Outdoor activities: Minimize the risk of being struck During 1he summer, people take aJ\'ant.1ge ol the \\arm \\cathcr 10 cnJ<>)' J multi1ude of outdoor rc:cremonal Jctiv111es. Pt.-ople involvt:d an acuvitics \Uch J.\ boat ing. \wimmmg, fi,hing, bicycling. golfing, jogging. w.1lking. hiking, cJmpi ng, or working 0111 of door.. aJI need to take chc appropriate Jc11ons in a timdv manner when thundemorm~ JpproJt:h. \'(!here orgamied 'll<>m JCU\'itics take plaet. coachC\, umpire<0, rcft'rco, or camp c;oun,clul"\ mu't protct.1 the \Jfct) of the panic1pant\ by ~topp111g the acnvitics sooner. so chat the panicapJnt\ and 'JlCCfJtol"\ can gel to .l \.tfe plac;c hefore 1h~ lightning rhrc:it becomes ~1gni fic3nt. fo reduce chc th re-JI of de.uh or 13 Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER Student Emergency Response Training Is Implemented at Gilmer High School By Mnry Amt Dowd-Sussman, Public !nformntion Officer Gilmer County Fire and Emergency Mnnttgement Agmcy in1ury. 1hose in charge of organilcd ou1 door activities should develop and follow a plan ro keep parricipants and ~pec1:11ors :.afe from lightning. Indoor activities: Things to avoid Inside homes. people must also avoid activities which put their lives at ri~k from a possible lightning :.trike. A:. with the out door activities, chcsc activities should be avoided before, during. and after storms. In panicuJar, people should stay away from windows and doors and avoid concacr with anything tlm conduclS clcc1riciry. People may also want to take cerrain actions wdl before 1hc storm to protect property within rhcir homes, such as clC"Ctronic cquipmenr. Helping a lightning strike victim If a person is struck by lighrning, medical care may be needed immediately co save che person's life. Cardfac arrest and irregularities, burns, and nerve damage arc common in cases where pt.-oplc arc SlfUck by lightning. However, with proper rrcac mcnt, including CPR if neccssal)' mos1 victims survive a lightning strike, although che long-ccrm eff'ecu on their lives and the lives of furnii)' membm can be dcvascacing. For more information abour lighming safery, visit the ational Weather Service Web site ar \vww.noaa.gov/ lightning.html. Cobb County PD Is CA LEA-certified The Cobb County Police Dcpanmenc has bn cenified by the Commi~ion on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The department is one of onlr 35 of Georgia's more than 700 law enforce ment a~ncic:s to meet the 446 CALEA standards and t"arn the prestigious cercificuion . T here's .m emergency and you arc sranding 1hcrc watching, frozen in your 1racks. Your mind is full ofques- tions. Whal should I do? How can I help? Surely someone will be here soon? lnsccad of raking aciion. you srand there, wondering. You know you should hdp. but your inner voice is saying, kif only I knew what 10 do, I would help. I don'1 know what to do!" Many individuals wam to help their famil)' neighbor, even them selves in :an emergency, bur they back away due to lack of 1rajniog. Lasr spring at Gilmer High Giimer High School drama students model their newty created m1uries: They tearrn!d the moutage technique lo create "victims !or a disaster exercise !hat Is part of the Teen SERT program chool in Ellijay, Gcorgi:a, mem the curriculum. Rc!prescncativcs from emer bers of 1hc freshman class were introduced gency man:agemem, emergency medical to Srudc:nr Emergency Response Training services, the fire deparrmeni, police and (SERT) through cheir hcalrh class. The goal sheriff's depanmeni and counselors deliver of this program is to prepare: students to portions of the classes. Orama and thcarcr make informed decisions when fuccd with a srudencs ace om a mock disasrer where sru- crisis, emcrgency or disaster. The ERT dcnts use rhe skills learned in the componcm of Lhc hc.ilth class covers basic classroom. first aid, rccogniz.ing injuries, fire safel}'t Gilmer County has had iu share ofdis- disaster management, team building, tcr asters in recent y~rs. Lase eptcmber, the rorism aw:m:ness and careers in public county was declared a disaster Jrc:2 due to :.afety. flooding by che remnants of Hurricane Gilmer High chool, which has abou1 Ivan. Power was off in pan~ of 1he county l ,200 student~. is the fim school in for over thrt-c days aher the rivers receded. Georgia to incorporate the SERT curricu Many fumilics were isolated and unable to lum into the health class. we want our 1ravcl, as roads and bridges were washed ~tudc:ncs ro be prepared for emergencies our. Neighbors walked through the woods and disasters. thus making our community to share food and clean water wi1h 1hose safer... says principal Randy Parson. less fonunate. The addition of the ERT "Providing an education that reaches them curriculum ar Gilmer High chool provides co be safe a1 home and school and robe able the community with even more citizens to assist others in need is paramount with who arc ready ro respond. Arc you ready? the ERT program. It's a powerful. hands- For more informacion about ERT at on learning situation." Gilmore High. conracr Beverly Turner, Public safcl) personnel from the: com Gilmer High School counselor. at munity assist rhe classroom teachers with (706) 276.5080. EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 14 hc:lp the Cobb County Emergency Management Agency with Prc-Ha1ard Mitigation pla1ming. while in Columbia County. CERT ''oluncc:ers :wist wich ~t-arch and rescue operations. training exercises, sp1.il events. speaking envgemencs. Jnd the: mobile operation center. io provide CERT teams with the equipment with they need. ropon'.>C trailers .ire now available in every GE~IA region. The 7'x 16' traile ~. each purchased for $14.500 wich federal funds, will carry generators, encry tools. NOAA weather radios. CPR mannequin,, cribbing. medical supplie~ and other cquipmcnl. They can be found :u the: White County Emergency Managemc111 Agency (EMA). Lee Counry Fire Departmcnr. Columbia Counry EMA. Jonci. Counry EMA. Liberty Count)' EtvtA, Gordon County EMA. Fulton Counry Fire Department, and Atkin~on C'.ounry EMA. omc individual public s:ifcry agencies, including the Amcricu~ Fire Oep:inmc:nt, have also purchased the units. To find our if there is a CERT program in your area. or to find out how co srnn a CERT program. conracc your local EMA director. t0 find a tr:iiner in your community. plt':l.S(' contact the State Citizen Corps program manager 1hro11gh the Georgia Citizen Corp~ Web site at www.gacitiu:ncorps.org. T he Community E.mcrgcncy Response Team (CER'll. one of five program~ that foll under the Citizen Corp~ umbrella. i~ growing aero~ Georgia. CERT prepares individu:il\ 10 help chcmsdv~. their fumilic5 and rhcir neighbors in rhc wake ofa c:it:ucrophic dis:mcr by te:iching chem basic prcparednc~ :ind r~ponsc skills that arc imporrant 10 know when emergency \Crvict'S :ire noc .ivailablc. 'llicse volumccr tt-ams work wirh their community's public safcry pe~onnd and arc intt-gratcd into the chain of command. The Office of Homeland ccurityGcorgia Emergency Management Agency (OH -GEi\tA) h.u crcaccJ a tr:iin-thcrraincr ("rrt ") program for inmuctors lO replicate the CERT program in their com munilics. The training cour..c compri~ ~ix rnodul~. including diuster preparedness. fire safecy. disa~ter medical oper.11iom. light \C:lrch ;md rescue. team organization and disaster p~chology modules. To date, 16 TIT trainings h:ive been conducct-d, creating a cadre of 318 trainers. Th1.~c rrainers h:ivc taught approximately .30 classes in 83 counti~ throughout the st:tte. People who go through CERT craining report chat they have a bet ter understanding of potential thre:ns to their homes, pfact~1ve tt::lm member\ kick ofT .1 1raining C'\clll or c:xerci'>t' b\ having "tc:rromt tell l:m c:nforccmcnc and other lim ropondc:rs .1bou1 the: graphit. dc:t:iib of how 1hc:y plan to kill American~. Specific rob might include: Red Cc:ll \Cen.uio developer :md wrirer for exc:rci~~ Opposing force briefer for tra1111ng and exercises. 1 his briefer would be: t.i1lored co the focu.\ of 1he event. \ctive 'lc::im membc:f\ p:iruc1pate in functional or full-M:alc cxc:r,1\c: ~ bad guy\: typic.illy .l\ \urveillancc and probing for1:es, bur rhcy could go as far a.c, tcrrorisr .mJck player\. Specific rob m1gh1 include: urvc:illmce .md probing operJ1he bl.1mic exm:mm :iu:ickc:r for runctional or full-~lc aerci\c Right wing "Bubba .11tJckc:r for runetionaf Or full <;ealc cxerct\C Red Cell mcmbcrs muse conunually .mend rr.un1ng cou~c:s to hone their skills. l'hl'} mus1 al,o s1ay abre-JS1 of 1hc hucsr 1rc:nd~ in 1c:rrori\m, including terrorist COUl'CS or action JnJ preferred methods of .lltJCk. It is wonh nOling th.u 'pcc1al care mu\c be excr"'>Cd when ac11vc: team' arc 111tegra1c:d into exercise \Cenarios. Recommended Red Cell curriculum includes: Red Cell oriemation - f"h" I-hour couf\c describe"\ 1hc: stare program. Red Cell opcnuive seminar Dl..,igncd to 1cach 1c:rroris1 1c:chniqucs and a11ack mcthodolog1<" and include\ a 'hon block of umrurnon 111 Acung I0 I. urveillance de1ection cour e Normally dc:\lgnecl to help sircct l.tw enforcement officer) or prh'Jte security to be Jblc: to rccogn11c: \\ hc:n their f.mlit\ or ..a:tor I!> under mrvc:illance. Th rear and risk assessment course - Usu.1lly dt"Signed for facility rnan.tgers and local l.H, c:nforcc:mcn1. hut it OHSGEMA school safety coordinator Kerth Sumas lrequently acts as a role-player dunno Red Cell exercases. somellmes posing as an Islamic extremist attacker His input adds reahsm I\ U\cd in chi' curriculum to provide Red Cdl members with W3)'S 10 defeat 1he S('.CU riry me~ure!i CO\'erc:d in the coul'\c. Domestic terrorism course CO\'Crs group\ opcr:iling an 1hc: United S1.110, ~uch " I .one Wolf. BubbJ Bombc:~ and the KKK. Consideration of others em1na.r I 10 2-hour ~minar to ensure the particip.lnls Jon'1 gc:t c.1rric..J Jway with the roles. Ruic' of l!ngagemcnc will be \U~t'~led. Oh. by the \'"')" che scenario descnbc:d JI 1hc bc:ginnmg of this amclc \\J~ pan of an Jnu-rerrori'm workshop for airport ntJnJgcrs. held 111 late 2004. llm year, two Red Cell \uicide homlx~ added reali~m 10 an11-1crrorism 1rJining wuh 1he Ailanta PolKe Dcpanmcnt. In Jddition. .i north \ilant.i coumy med J domotK terrorisr Rc:d Cell role plJyc:r for an innovative improvised cxplmivc device Kcnario. EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 16 17 Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER W en there 1~ a medical emercncv rct1u1rang 1mmed1a1e mpon~ b) 1r.11ned people ''uh proper equipment, cvcr)'hources arc :ivaiiahit. " he "1Y' The ball was pa.<.~d to the Georgia lnformmon haring .tnd \n.tl)'\I) Center (GI A() for .icuon. ( ,l<\A(. 1s Georgia OH -(. l MA' terrorm-rclated an1cll1gcncc gathering .tnd Ji~\Cmin.111on component According to hc:rbergcr. turning to G ISAC' for rhe pl.in w.l\ ,l natural lit. " I he traggcr point for action is the intcl11 gcncc: information we: obtJin 1hrough C. l\AC.M he \JY' The CTTF includes members from several state agencies who can be qu1cldy deployed when mlrasrructure IS threatened All have speciahzed tasks. although they work toOether Rangers lrom the Department or Natural Resources manage all CTTF waterway secu11ty and operahons (above). whtle the state SWAT leam 1s specially tratned to handle qu1Ck tactical resolullon (below) EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 18 agcncs. 0115-GEMA and GJSAC personnel and cxplo~ivc ordnance di~po..al experts. The G1:orgia Public afocyTr:Jining Center provides spcci.11 training so ccam~ can respond to a "idc range ofpotential scenarios. from weapons of m:lS) dc:scruction to convencional cxplo!>i\e devices. be in place ... 10 prorc..-cc our fellow cirizen~ and secure critical infomrucrurc," said Georgia Governor ormy Perdue when he introduced the concept to the public late la.st yc:ir. I le added that personnel would be bcm:r prepared 10 re\pond to potential threats anywhere in Georgia. Specially trained Georgia State Paro! unns provide h1ghV1slb1hty concentrated patrols and site secunty to srtes cm. that may be at nsk of a terrorist attack (above) Once GISAC launches a they coordinate their eflons with the FBI/Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Department ol Homeland Secunty (below). GISAC manages operations and coordinate:.., continuoll!tly with the FBI/Joint ' terrorism fask Force UITF) and the U.. Department of Homeland Securicy ( L)HS) during all phases of activ:nion. The decision ro deploy a CTfF will be made by the 0 11 -GEMA dirccror. who confer~ wich the Governor. "In the event of a peciflc threat, these re~pome tt:am$ will 19 "Prior t<> deploying an entire tJsk force, we'd ~nd .in advance team to the sice to assess rhc s1mation and determine what rc..-!>ourccs are m.-cdcd." says Hardin. The Jdvancc team will go co the area of the "rhrcatened !>itc" to: I} bc..-gin coordinJt ing rhe crrF deployment wicb chc on-sice secumy manager and locJI and regional publit.: s.ifcty offici.il~; 2) make logistical and financial arrangements for the deployment; 3) coordinarc funding for the cask force and rhe local .tnd region.ii public ~!C ry a.\Sct... for the long-term site security operations: and 4) begin a~essing and. poccntially, enhancing the emergency response and management ~ecs in the area of rhc thrc..-atened site. "Evcmually, chc advance ream should be able to provide an operations plan template 10 assist the loc:il or regional St-curicy and public safety entities in organi1.ing and supporting their sccuricy1 operations for the site," I lardin explains. Low-key i.urveillance, high-profile patrolling or augmcntation of local sccmiry forces att among a wide range of potcnriaJ tacrics the task force could employ. While the entire CTTF may deploy to a thrc:uenc..'ti sicc, depending upon the circumstances. one or rwo of the componenrs may be selectively deployed, or each of the componems may ht- deployed ac difTercnr rimes. thereby ph.asing in dilTcrenr "layers" of protective measures. Hardin seres.~ that these teams aren't inccndcd to be occupying forces and sray in an area for extended periods of rime. They are meant to get into the affccred area quickly, help secme the sire uncil more permanent forces cm be brought to bear, then transition back our, reconsolidatc and prepare ro re.deploy cl...ewhere, if ncccssary. herbcrgcr emph:i.sizc.., thar local ftrsc responders will still be in charge of their local rc..-sponse effom. and thac the crrF is nor intended to usurp chcir auchoricy. "We'll ai.k loc-JI authorities how they want to opcr:Jte," he says. "We want to know about the local relationship~ between organit..:uions ~o we'll know how bcsr co support them... During the G-8 Summic held in June 2004, a similar conccpr was te~rccl using multi-agency response toms. According co Sherbcrger, it worked very wdl. kThey played a key role in a~uring lhal potential chrc:ats or incidcnrs were addressed quickly and efficiently," he say~. "With C l-rF we've taken a liUCc~ful concept a srep furrhc:r ro help deter tcrrori~r anadcs." One advantage: to 1he progrnm is thal tr will be supported by local and Cedcral rc.~ourccs. kldcally. rhc local and regional public s:ifery agencies will be able to ucilizc off-ducy personnel to augment i.ite security, and can pa) them with :;upplcmcntal funding from DH ,"says Hardin. OH -GEMA will coordinate supplt'mental funding with DllS. Summer 2005 EMERGENCY MANAGER Personnel rrom Ille Georgta Bureau or 1nves1tgal1on and 111e Department of Natural Resources providll secunty operations 1n woodland areas Funding follow-on opcra11ons locally i~ an important f<':lturc to make this a susrninablc: dTort. According to a survey rccendr released by Amnic1m City 1md Co111try magazine, money is what loc:tl gov- ernmcms nt.-ed most co ~upport their home: land securicy efforts. evency perceni of du. 900 cirics and counties responding co rhc: survey say funding was their biggest home land security problem. 111c rhrt-c main 2005 funding go.ils they identified arc improved communications, protecting first responder) from hv.ardous materials and concrolling access to public fuciliucs. Another advanrage of rhc: ClTI is that necessary cquipmc:nc will be: prc:)lockcd by GI AC. Ml'll have compatible commun1cuion' equipmcnr in stock ready to pull .tnd use,M Hardin s:iys. MOthc:r specialized equipment has been purchased co equip rhc: cask force for their v:arious missions. They'll be Jble to train and use rhc: equipment conscamly because they'll have it available." This is a ~ubt le: but cxcrcmc:ly vic,11 point, being com forcable wuh thc: cquipmc111 rhrough train ing long before it's needed in action. 0 11 -GEMA has made: chc: commit ment to make chc: CTfF program pcrmanem, Sherbcrgc:r co nfirm~. MAs our military and international imdligencc :b$Ct~ wage: 1he war Oil terrorism Oil foreign banlcfields. we: here in Georgia musr nm only imagine the unimaginable - we muse prepare for it," he sr rcsse~. M\X'e must presume ch.11 1cr rorim arc: planning atracks in Gcorgi.i, and we must prepare co repel and defeat them. An aggrc~sivc, rapid. and wdl-pl:mncd rt-sponsc: co terrorist threats could prevent auacb or, at least, mitigate consequence and could erve co discourage fiuurc cerrorisc activities in Georgia.M He says that GI AC will be taking the $how on chc: road. going to major mecropolican regions wich a confcrc:nce-forma1 prcscmation of the ci-rF program. The lim focu~ will be: on high-risk arCJs. WThe task force members will be on the ground when there is imminent danger." l>ay Shcrbcrger. wit\ imporram that rhe public know thac Georgia 1s commiuc:d lO fighting 1crmri~m and char we have a robust system that we can \tand up if needed.~ EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2005 20 New Class Teaches Parents How Their Kids Can Use the Internet Safely By Matt Robms, Area School Safety Coordi11a1or ccording to the ll.:1rcnts should al~ make Census Bureau, more sure children arcfulJy check han halfofAmerion the full add~ of :i Web site homes own at least one com- before typing it into a browser. puter. Moreover. nine of For instance, a Web sire with every I0 school-age children Mwhitc house., in the tirle could had access co a computer in take users 10 either the 2000, with 80 percent U\ing President's offici.11 Web me or a computer at school. a parody of ir. Technology has changed chil- dren's lives, with students Online predators logging onto the Internet for Online predators establish educnional activiti~. gamC\, contact with kids through con chamng and e-mail. \'erutions in chat rooms, I lowcver, the lntcrner ha.\ itS dark ~1de, and children face many risks from people An 1ncr .JS'HJ r'1,rnr.r ul >ids t'.J.e .ire"'~ to computer<, Wt11 1e 111.111, id tr.end!, ste' pro. 1th' t'tl1" ,l!11Jn.11 1n!ormJt1on .Hlel "nt,.rt.1 nmen! children I.ice 111,Jn, risks instant messaging, e-mJil, or discussion boards. Often thC) will ply cbeir cargecs with who prey on them. Wirh a linle know-how, parem~ c<&n play an impor for the computer. This way. parent~ can attention, afTcaion and kindnrn to rry ro gradually seduce rant role in pro1ccting rheir children from ghc themselves an admini~trator account them and will devote considerable lime. the pirfalls of cnme :md with full control over 1he computer, and, an money and energ) to this effon. Predators \'1C11m11..11ion. turn g1,e children limited user accouncs keep up with the btot music :tnd fad~ and wuh restricted con1rols. Limned u~r; can listen to and ~ympath1zc with kid~' prob- Objectionable content not change ~stem mungs or install new lems. They also try co case young people's The Internet is acce \ible by many hardware or \oftwarc, including mos1 inhibition~ by gradu:illy introducing ~exu.11 applicarions, including J Web browser. games, media players and chat programs content into their conversations or by e-mail and onlme char programs. All of Parents also cm adius1 security scnings in showing them \Cxually cxplicn material. th~ may expose children to objccuonable the Web bro\\..Cr, ensuring thJt children Predators mav C'\""Jluate the kids thC} meet marerial. Pomograph\, violence and hate can only access trus1ed, secure sites, ;mJ ~ onlinc for future facc-to-F.ace contact. l:..ich have found an accommodating home on where kids go onlinc by checking their year. ch1ldrc:n .1n: abducted. scxuJ.JI} ~uh the Internet. \VhiJe some Web ~ire require Internet history. ed and killed by people they meet online, use~ 10 emer a birrh dare for .1cc~. this Commercial parental control sof1warc and these c.1i.es continue to grow wuh t"ach ccurit)' can be easily bypa~scd. 01her sire\ providing more comprchcnsive options .ilso pa.~sing day. ma\ expo~ u~r; ro illicit ma1cnal as soon 1\ available. This software usually includC"\ Adolc.scenrs arc most vulncrJble to 3.5 the page loads. features ~uch a.s \afe search. which filters being approached by online predators. Internet service pro,iders (I P)) offer out undesirable SC-Jrch results, Web filter- ThC) arc eicplonng their sexuality, bccom- m.my w.ty~ to pro1ect children. One of the ing. which blocks t1ues1aonable marer1al. mg more independent. and looking for new best dt'fenscs against mappropriJte content 11mc management. which limiis the umcs relationships outside tbe famil)'. Under the is 10 block i1 before it gets to children, and of day :10J :imt)Unt of time children c.m illusion of anonymiry - Jn illusion there arc numerous ways co do chis. 'llCnd onlinc, and privacy pro1cction. !>ome because Internet use cm be tracked - they Con1ent adviwrs and parcnc;il controls pcr- software uso lim to block unsuitable Web are more likd) ro rake risks onlme ''i1hou1 mu parenu 10 monitor :and restricr their addro~. Keep m mmJ. howt'.\er, thJ1 fully undemanding the possible children\ usage. Moreover. some I Ps these programs must be updated on a regu- co~uenc~. enable pJren~ to crca1e multiple account\ lar basis to keep current. To hdp kith avoid becommg a v1ct1m, 21 Summer 2006 EMERGENCY MANAGER p.trcncs should 1alk to them pans of the Inierner, copy- about sexual preda1ors and right and licen~ing issues, po1en1ial onlinc d:rnger~. protecting on-line privacy, Young children should stay pedophiles and rheir out of chat rooms. fu chil- grooming merhods. and dren gee older, parents can computer hacki ng. dirc:c1 them coward well- Participants also learn abou1 moni1ored kids' cha1 rooms, sofrware filtering and block- but make ~urt- you know ing tools, how 10 sean:h 1hc: which ones they vi~il. Even lmcrner and their own teens should use monitored compmer ro sec what their ch:11 room~. child has been doing. and Many cha1 rooms offer how to cffcciivcly monitor Mwhisper" area~ where users and sc:l mies for their child's can cha1 one-on-one, and on-line experience~. moni1ors can'1 read 1hc:se 0 1IS-GEMA has J conver:.:uiom. Children team of nine trained should never leave the cha1 ins1ruct0rs who will offer room's public art-a to enter the lnrcrnct and Your Child 1he "whisper" areas. free of charge throughoul Whc:n your children arc An easy way for parents to make sure their children are not surfing somewhere they the srarc at DTAE campuses young, 1hey should share the shouldn t 1s to walk by tile computer occasionally when they are onhne beginning in March 2005. family e-mail .1dd res.~ rather This course provides parcn~ than have 1heir own c:-mail accounts. As they get older, ask your ISP to sec up a ~cparate e-mail addrt-ss, bu1 rour children's mail can sriU reside in your account. Make sure you have passwords co all accounu, including e-mail and chat, so you can occasionally monitor chem. Tell your children 10 never respond co instant messaging or e-mails from scrangers. Identity theft ing until che criminal has already innicted substanrial damage on their ~ets, cr"-dic and reputation. To avoid being :.cammed. parents should reach cheir children nor ro pose any information on the lnremet or respond ro any unsolicited e-mails. Names. birth da1cs, wcial J.l'CUriry numbers, cvc:n names of your child's school can ace lS a catalyst fo r criminals co gni n more information tnd conduc1 criminal activity in your name. 31 all levels or computer skills, whether whey have med a computer extensively or never before. the rools and techniques for 1racking rheir child's computer activiry. For more informa1ion, call O H -GEMA\ chool afety Unit a1 (404} 635-7000 or visit www.ohs.srare.ga.us. Rules for online safety Establish rules for the computer and lmcrnel use and post chem near the: ldenticy theft is a serious problem. Ir is worth nocing char some commer- compu1er. According to the Federal Trade: cial parcnial control software will nor allow Move 1hc computer oul of bedrooms Commission. individuals :ind companies personal information, such as phone: numlose billions of dollars every year due 10 it. bers, addrO:>C:S, or credi1 card information. and orher private areas and imo public a reas, such as rhe kitchen or living The 1nternet has become a gold miJ1e for chieves who steal personal information, and too frequemly children arc easy prey. to be scm through e-mail or inseam messaging. Often companies will requo1 chat you room, where acuvmes can be monitored by an adult. Walk by the computer occasionally Parenis have: received large: credit card register products or request services onlinc. when your child is online. This is a bills and even had co 1ake second mongages If you do so, be sure ir is over a secure con- good deu:rrem for teenagers who don't because their children revealed personal nection to a secure source. If you arc noi want you to know what they arc doing. information while on the lmerner. Often. sure, do nor send this information over the Teach children never ro reveal personal this information is obcained through sur- Internet. These activities can usually be veys passed around in friendly sounding e- conducted over 1he phone or 1hrough rhe informarion ro anyone online. Ask your children for the names, Web mails chacask seemingly innocent questions mail. such as, "Whar's your favorite color" and si1cs and char rooms rhey have been visiting. In addition, check che history "When is your birthday"? With enough idenrifying informarion, a criminal can cake over thar individual's identity and use it ro apply for loans and credit cards, make withdrawals from bank accounts and use telephone calling cards. If the criminal rakes steps co ensure that the bills and bank scatemenrs arc sent ro an address orher than rhe victim's, the victim may noc become aware of what is happen- New class for parents The Georgia Office of Homeland Securiry-Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS-GEMA) has partnered with rhe Oeparrmenc of Technical and Adult Education (OTA) ro offer Tiu lnrenier and Your Chi/J, a 7-hour, hands-on 1raining course. co parents and educators throughout Georgia. h covers rhe basics of computers and how they work, various in your Web browser 10 verify what siu'S your child has accessed. Set rcsrricrions on computer cimc. Promoce open communication wi1h your children and enforce rules when violations occur. Install anti-virus, privacy software and blocking 1oolbars to keep tracking software and unwanted pop-ups off your computer. EMERGENCY MANA