August 9, 2012
Town Emergency Preparedness
Last week, the State of Connecticut held a statewide emergency drill over four days to test the response of the state, municipalities, and other organizations. Towns were given the choice of participating in as much or as little as they chose. Colchester decided to participate in all four days of the drill.
Prior to this drill, some staff participated in a local “tabletop” exercise that simulated a natural disaster. During these drills, we learn how to function in different roles, analyze the situation, develop responses, and deal with any new issues that arise.
Last year’s twin storms taught us many lessons about emergency preparedness. Perhaps the biggest lesson is that we should never stop preparing. We often think of disasters befalling other parts of the country that are more prone to weather issues. However, we must always be prepared for when the disaster strikes here. We certainly see extreme weather less frequently than other parts of the country, but it is a statistical certainty that we will be impacted at some point.
The town is always trying to improve our emergency preparedness. This is often a challenge as dedicating funds for a seldom used function is a tough thing to ask. Also, only a small percentage of our workforce performs emergency functions regularly. We must train our non-emergency staff on how to perform during a disaster. This allows us to have a flexible workforce to meet the changing situation as it happens.
Another important factor is the support of volunteers. The CHVFD, CERT team, and other specialized individuals have made themselves available to deal with these emergencies. I want to thank the ones that participated in the recent drills and invite other residents to get involved as well. We always need people who are willing to volunteer to help their community.
Individual Preparedness
While the town has our response plan for an emergency, it is equally important that individuals and families have their own response plan. First, I urge everyone to sign up with the CT Alert notification system. There is a link on the town website at www.colchesterct.gov . In the initial stages of any crisis, communication is vitally important and you should know all the areas you can get information. TV, radio, phone, and internet can all provide critical information. The town will put out information in multiple methods so we can reach as many people as possible.
Another thing individuals should be prepared for is to survive on their own for at least 72 hours. We are consistently told not to expect any state or federal resources for three days following a disaster. Please ensure you always have at least a three day supply of water, food, medication, and other necessities for each person. If a category three hurricane were to hit Connecticut, approximately 80% of the trees would be knocked down. This would create utter devastation and prevent supplies from reaching towns. Again, please ensure you and your family are prepared in case you are unable to receive supplies in the initial days of a disaster.
We can never predict when and where disaster will strike. Please be one of the people who is prepared.
- Gregg Schuster
First Selectman
Previous Selectman Notes can be viewed at
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