Understanding the threats and hazards you might face gives you a baseline for how to prepare before, respond during, and recover after a disaster. In other words, being informed will help you develop YOUR plan. Visit https://www.ready.gov/be-informed to learn more about the threats and hazards, and how to better prepared for them.
Weather
Weather is one of the most likely hazards we face. Be it winter, severe, fire, or everyday weather, we are constantly impacted by the weather. For this reason it is important we know where to go to stay better informed. Our county falls under the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Dodge City, but we border on the Goodland WFO as well.
NWS Dodge City: http://www.weather.gov/ddc/
NWS Goodland: http://www.weather.gov/gld/
Travel
Whether it is your daily commute, vacation, or the holidays, staying informed about travel conditions can help you make decisions that may protect you and your family from a dire situation, particularly during winter driving conditions. The Kansas Department of Transportation maintains a web site where you can find information on construction and road conditions, including a network of live cameras, leading to a more informed decision regarding your travels.
KanDrive Roads: www.kandrive.org
Health, Wellness, and Disease Prevention
When it comes to your health and wellness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a great place to start. This site shares information on threats and hazards you may encounter while traveling at home or abroad, and how to protect yourself. There is also information on current trends and concerns with regards to all illnesses and diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/
For a more local source of information on health and environmental concerns the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is a great source of information.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment: http://www.kdheks.gov/
Traditional Media
Even as our world becomes more digital, television, newspapers, and radio remain as strong sources of information, particularly during and after an emergency or disaster. It has been proven time and time again that communities turn to these mediums for information such as current conditions, evacuation orders, suggest actions from public officials, etc.
We recommend you find a source is reliable and trusted by YOU, but here is a list of traditional media outlets that serve our local area. To find local radio stations just "spin the dial".
Scott County Record: https://www.scottcountyrecord.com/
The Garden City Telegram: http://www.gctelegram.com/
KWCH (CBS): http://www.kwch.com/
KAKE (ABC): http://www.kake.com/
KSN (NBC): http://ksn.com/
FOX Kansas: http://foxkansas.com/
Social Media
Many of us have social media accounts that we use to stay in touch with family and friends, or to serve our interests, hobbies, or careers. However, social media can be a great tool for staying informed and improving your situational awareness. While there are a plethora of accounts you can follow, here are some local resources to help you stay better informed:
Scott County Emergency Management
Scott County Fire Department
Scott County Hospital
Scott County Health Department
USD 466
- High School - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-City-High/326326924221859
- Middle School - www.facebook.com/ScottCityMiddleSchool
- Elementary School - www.facebook.com/ScottCityElementarySchoolBeavers
Make A Plan
Whether it is for your family, individuals with access or functional needs, senior citizens, your workplace, or if you have pets and animals, it is important to have a plan before disaster strikes! Visit https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan to learn more about how you can get started.
Build A Kit
Disasters don't follow a calendar or schedule so it is important to have a kit at home, in your vehicle(s), at work and/or school so you are prepared for whatever may occur. The contents of kits can vary widely, and while they should contain some standard items, they should also be tailored to the needs of you and your family.
If you visit https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit there are some great checklists to get you started.
Get Involved
The level of our community preparedness relies heavily on the efforts of us as citizens. During an emergency or disaster responders may be minutes away when seconds count, or in a widespread disaster it may be hours before outside help can arrive. If each one of us gets involved with our community, with our neighbors, by being informed and trained, we will be better positioned to come out ahead.
For some ideas on how YOU can get involved visit https://www.ready.gov/get-involved, or contact our office for more opportunities.