On Aug. 29th, a storm in Florence & Coolidge damaged critical infrastructure that provides power & telecommunications support to our region. Another storm on Sept. 3rd blacked out a wide area of Casa Grande. The response from Coolidge, Florence & Casa Grande emergency personnel, Co. staff & Sheriff’s Office was outstanding. More heartwarming to each of us is the compassion, cooperation & patience demonstrated by the thousands of affected residents.
Monsoon storms are nothing new to Pinal Co. The fact that they come on some of the hottest days can turn an ordinary storm into a serious emergency. Cooling centers were set up, supplied with backup power & staffed to shelter residents during the sweltering heat.
Red Cross & other volunteer agencies left their families to tend to the needs of people in the emergency shelters. Behind the scenes, local law enforcement & fire personnel increased patrols to ensure that the affected areas remained safe.
Because the Coolidge storm took out more than 10 poles rigged with lines from APS & Electrical District 2, recovery was going to take more time. Pinal Co. Health & Human Services team members identified 120 clients in the area & mobilized staff to assist with their health & safety needs.
After large scale emergencies like Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11th, terror attacks, state & local governments recognized the need for integrated emergency response planning. Since then, our planning and coordination with cities, towns, first responders & relief agencies continues to be tested, drilled & reviewed.
Pinal Co. Development Services hosted an After-Action review for County departments & electrical utilities involved in these events. They'll continue to implement steps to provide safe, effective response to any emergency that may affect county residents.
There are important steps that you should also take to ensure your family’s safety in an emergency. Residential Emergency Preparedness was the topic of Pinal County’s 2006 Town Hall. Now's a good time to look at ready.gov or co.pinal.az.us/PCTH/annrept.html to establish your own emergency plan. Here are a few simple things you can do:
* Have enough food and water to last 72 hours. This means things that can be grilled, eaten or prepared without electric power. Don’t forget to include the needs of your pets or companion animals.
* Have 72-hour supply of important medications, along with formula & diapers if there are infants at home as well as personal hygiene items.
* Have a first aid kit, a flashlight & fresh spare batteries.
* Have access to a cellular telephone or at least one corded telephone. If your household power is out, wireless house phones will not work.
* Use a battery-operated AM or AM/FM radio & tune to news radio stations for updates.
* Have warm blankets or sleeping bags in case your heat goes out in winter.
* Have money for emergency shelter or hotel stays, if necessary.
This is only a partial list. Please visit ready.gov to see what other steps you should take. There are special sections for business owners/managers & helpful tips for older citizens or people with special needs.
Thank you again for your coordination, cooperation & for being such great examples of the spirit of Pinal Co.
Supervisor David Snider, Chairman
Supervisor Lionel Ruiz
Supervisor Sandie Smith