Emergency Management

The threat level in the airline sector is High or Orange.
The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.  

March is Severe Storms Preparedness Month

While severe weather can occur anywhere at any time, most of Lexington's thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, and flooding occur between February and June.  Severe Storms Preparedness Month is a great opportunity to practice your emergency plans for these severe weather events.  Need help developing an emergency plan?  Click here for instructions.
 

NOAA weather alert radios are the single, best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from severe weather.  They are the only thing that will wake you up in the middle of the night, when most televisions and radios are off, for a tornado warning.  Remember that outdoor warning sirens are meant to be heard OUTSIDE only.  If you are in a home, school, office, or other building, you should have a NOAA weather alert radio.  To find out more about NOAA weather alert radios, visit the National Weather Service web site.

Public Information

Throughout March we will be promoting severe weather and disaster preparedness throughout Lexington.  Here are some items you might see across the county:

• A banner promoting severe storms preparedness on the Vine St. viaduct; to view an image of the banner, click here.
• Portable message boards on major arteries throughout town with the message:  Are you ready for spring severe weather?  www.lexingtonky.gov/dem
• Information tables at all the Lexington Public Library branches
• Info on Radio Lexington AM 1620

Training Opportunities

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training will begin on Thursday, March 4th. This training teaches folks what they can do to help themselves and their neighbors in the immediate aftermath of a disaster until the professional first responders arrive. Visit the CERT web site to learn more. If interested contact Shelley Bendall at sbendall@lexingtonky.gov. RSVPs are required.

The National Weather Service will provide a Weather Spotter training class on Wednesday, March 10th, at 7:00 p.m. at the American Red Cross at 1450 Newtown Pike. The event is free and open to the public. To learn more about Weather Spotter training, visit the NWS Skywarn web site. This event is cosponsored by the National Weather Service, Lexington Division of Emergency Management, Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society.

Visit our Web Site at www.lexingtonky.gov/dem for more information on the following topics or disaster preparedness in general:

• National Weather Service Louisville Office Severe Storms Preparedness Month Information
• Building a Disaster Resistant House
• After the Storm Has Passed...who to call...what to do
• Tornado Myths
• Lightning
• Thunderstorms

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A Welcome from Patricia Dugger, Director

	166 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Ste 275 Lexington, KY 40507
	(859) 258-3784
	(859) 252-8689
	Emergency Operations Center (only when activated) (859)

• The Preparedness Phase is the period before an emergency occurs, is impending, or threatened. Preparedness activities include developing and updating plans and procedures, training and equipping employees, volunteers, and the public, and conducting drills and exercises.
• The Response Phase is the period immediately before, during, and after an emergency occurs. Response activities seek primarily to reduce injuries and fatalities, and property and environmental damage if possible.
• The Recovery and Mitigation Phases includes the period after an emergency occurs when the state of readiness returns to normal. Recovery activities seek to restore the community to its pre-emergency condition or better. This includes damage assessment, restoration of services, environmental cleanup, repair and reconstruction. This can also include mitigation activities designed to prevent or minimize the effects of future events.
    

Storm Ready Recognition Letter
How to Become Storm Ready