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Emergency Preparedness Web Site Unveiled
OCEAN COUNTY - With almost 600,000 people calling Ocean County home, it's important they have the right information to help them through an emergency.
"Today we are launching a new Web site that will help our residents and visitors navigate the steps needed to be taken before, during and after an emergency," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as Director of Law and Public Safety. "I encourage our residents to visit this Web site, whether it be for up to the minute information during an actual emergency or to help a family put together an emergency plan."
The emergency preparedness Web site can be accessed from the Ocean County
government information home page at
co.ocean.nj.us. "By clicking on the words 'Be Prepared,' you will be taken to the new
Web site," Kelly noted. "It's easy to access and the information is easy to locate."
Prepared by the Ocean County Department of Information Technology and the Division of Public Information with the help of Ocean County's Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff William L. Polhemus, the Web site can help residents and visitors alike plan, prepare and perhaps weather an emergency in Ocean County.
"This information is also readily available through a number of brochures provided by the Sheriff's Department and Emergency Management," said Ocean County Sheriff William L. Polhemus. "The Web site brings it all into one place that is convenient to access."
"This will be a very useful informational tool for our residents and visitors," he said.
Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Information Technology Department noted that in addition to information on emergency preparedness, the Web site features a special area for the latest emergency management updates.
"In addition to the traditional means of getting the information out to our residents such as radio and television outlets, we will now be able to direct our residents to this Web site
during an actual event where they can get
timely updates on information," Lacey said. "This will help enhance the other information
avenues we have always relied upon."
Visitors to the site can learn what to do before an emergency like a forest fire or hurricane occurs. In addition, there is information on how to take care of pets during an emergency, a list of what you need to take should you be evacuated, a list of evacuation shelters, the telephone numbers for municipal offices of emergency management and some helpful links to government and other agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Administration and weather services.
"I'd like to thank all the departments that worked on this Web site in addition to Drew Scarantino, a summer intern in the Public Information Office," Kelly said. "This was a cooperative effort that will provide many benefits to the residents."
Also, to help residents keep important information right at their fingertips during an emergency, the county will be distributing refrigerator magnets to residents that includes a space for emergency numbers and a list of items you should bring with you if you are evacuated.
"Living in a coastal county, it's important to raise awareness that natural disasters like
hurricanes and nor'easters can happen and
it's important to be prepared," Kelly said. "We know our emergency responders are
well-prepared to handle all situations. We want to make sure we do what we can to educate our residents too."
The magnets will be available at the County Connection, the Ocean County government service outlet at the Ocean County Mall, and also on the mobile County Connection, which brings programs and services of the Board of Freeholders directly into the community.
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