Emergency Preparedness Symposium was a Success!

The Portage County Annual Emergency Preparedness Symposium was a great event!

In conjunction with the Portage County Fire Chief’s Association, Portage County Health Department, Portage County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Portage County Safety Council, the event took place on Friday, November 15th, 2024, at Northeast Ohio Medical University, and had 3 great presentations!

  • Lithium-Ion Batteries, presented by Nick Zamiska, Bad Day Training and Consulting.
  • 2012 Chardon School Shooting – Lessons Learned, presented by Michael Hanlon, Chardon Schools Superintendent.
  • Cybersecurity and Multi-factor Authentication, presented by Cameron Singer, Portage County Informational Technology.

November 15, 2024 – Emergency Preparedness Symposium

In conjunction with the Portage County Fire Chief’s Association, the Portage County Health Department, Portage County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Portage County Safety Council, you are invited to attend the Portage County Annual Emergency Preparedness Symposium, scheduled for November 15, 2024, from 08:00AM to 12:00PM at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, Cook Hall (4209 OH-44, Rootstown, OH 44272).

The following FREE event qualifies for up to one safety council rebate Attendance Credit (the same as a monthly meeting) for PCSC members and up to one external training credit for members of other Ohio Safety Councils.

This is a great training opportunity covering 3 hot button issues!

  1. Lithium-ion Battery Safety: “While these batteries provide an effective and efficient source of power, the likelihood of them overheating, catching on fire, and even leading to explosions increases when they are damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored.” – NFPA
  2. Chardon Active Shooter: Professionals who were present during the 2012 Chardon High School shooting will share about what they learned from the tragedy to help improve your policy, preparation and prevention.
  3. Cybersecurity: “The integration of sophisticated technologies not only fuels business innovation but also introduces complex cybersecurity challenges. This reality is further compounded by the growing dependence on third-party and fourth-party vendors, which can extend the cybersecurity risk landscape beyond the organization’s immediate control.” – Security Scorecard

Register online no later than Friday, November 8th, 2024. IMPORTANT: Please make sure to click “Yes” on question 5 (Are you attending for the Portage County Safety Council) so we can make sure you’re on the PCSC sign-in sheets to qualify for the rebate attendance credit.

CREDITS: Please note that attendees for the symposium will be awarded four (4) hours of EMS continued education! In addition, this free event qualifies for up to one safety council rebate Attendance Credit (the same as a monthly meeting) for Portage County Safety Council members or up to one External Training Credit for members of other Ohio Safety Councils.

Emergency Weather Communications: December 2023 Safety & Hygiene Corner

Question: Inclement weather is coming our way. How can organizations effectively
communicate with their employees in these emergency situations?


Answer: First, start with a policy now (before the bad weather hits). Your policy should
include protocols for handling communications before, during, and after a severe
weather incident. Inclement weather is defined as any severe or harsh weather
condition that makes it unsafe or impractical to travel, commute, or work outdoors.
When and how will employees be informed of weather-related closures? Where do you
store contact information for each employee? Consider mass communication
notifications systems and draft a template message for expected weather-related
situations.


Ideally, employees are provided with clear rules regarding the appropriate procedures
for reporting their voluntary decision to stay at home. Consider remote work if possible.
Establishing these protocols beforehand ensures that all individuals are aware of the
necessary actions, anticipated outcomes, and effective means of communication when
confronted with an imminent storm.


Here are a few resources to get you started: Alert Media Blog: Message from
AlertMedia
| When I work Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Inclement Weather
Policy
(wheniwork.com) | CDC page for preparedness: Preparing for a Winter
Storm|Winter Weather
(cdc.gov) | Feel free to reach out to your BWC Safety Consultant
for ideas and advice as well.

*Brought to you by your Ohio BWC safety consultants.

April 11, 2019 – Tornado’s Don’t Care: Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity Strategies

Greetings Safety Council Members!

Our next meeting is Thursday, April 11, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna.  The official meeting notice is attached.

Our topic for this month is…

Tornado’s Don’t Care: Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity Strategies, presented by Cody Brookover, Deputy Director, Portage County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.

  • Tis’ the season, tornadoes can cause catastrophic loss. What are you doing to prepare?
  • Is there a best way to prepare? What measures have currently been taken? Are they adequate?
  • How does your business continuity procedures mesh with operational aspects of severe weather impacts?

Cody is the Deputy Director of the Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Cody came to Portage County in 2016 after serving 8 years on active duty in the Marine Corps, deploying internationally to combat zones and disaster sites with specialized security and response forces. He is a certified A.L.I.C.E active shooter response instructor, security instructor, and has an advanced degree in management.

This training is ideal for safety managers, human resources & emergency preparedness staff!

Come enjoy a delicious meal catered by “Guido’s”. Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members. ($5 fee will be charge for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline). Please note: no shows will be invoiced.

Please RSVP no later than 12pm on Monday, April 8, 2019.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW

Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members (there’s a $5 fee for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline).

This Meeting is Sponsored By Ving!

Ving logo

Incident Command System Advanced Training

Advanced Incident Command System training provided by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, hosted by the Portage County EMA.

ICS 300 – April 23-25, 2018, in Ravenna. Click here for the ICS 300 flyer.

ICS 400 – May 22-23, 2018, in Ravenna. Click here for the ICS 400 flyer.

For questions or help registering, please contact:

Cody Brookover, Deputy Director, Portage County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.

Email: cbrookover@portageco.com

Office: (330) 235-7357

Cell – 24 Hour: (330) 298-8119

Fax: (330) 297-4569

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a PCSC affiliated event.