As we enter a winter season that has already shown how unpredictable Mother Nature can be, the Cherry Hill Office of Emergency Management reminds residents that it is important to be prepared for extended power outages and other dangerous situations that can occur during significant weather events.
Make a Plan
• Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family’s point of contact for emergency communications. Decide on a meeting place if your family cannot return home because of closed roads. Discuss with your family what you would do in case of severe winter weather in your area.
• Prepare yourself and your family for disaster by making an emergency plan. Have a place to meet in your neighborhood, outside of your neighborhood and out of town. Decide how you will contact each other in the event of an emergency and discuss this and your meeting place prior to any emergency. The time to plan is before and event not during it.
• Your plan should include care for pets and any family member that has functional needs.
Get a Kit
• You’ll need emergency supplies on hand at home, in the car and at work.
• For home, start with these basics: three days’ food and water; a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries; and a family emergency plan. After getting these supplies, add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and supplies for special needs members of your household, and pet items.
• For your car, start with some bottles of water and food bars; blankets; and cell phone charger.
• For your office, have some bottles of water and food bars and a radio to hear local information about whether or not it is safe to travel. Officials may advise staying in place until it is safe to travel.
Stay Informed
Before, during and after a significant storm, listen for up-to-date information from your local media and emergency officials. Local media will give instructions from local, state and federal agencies that cover road conditions, flooding, storm watches and warnings, power outages and health information. Make sure your battery-powered radio is working and you have extra batteries in case the electricity goes out.
Cherry Hill has been impacted by severe storms over the past two years. Local emergency officials encourage everyone who lives, works or visits Cherry Hill Township to be familiar with our emergency services and notifications. Prior to a major weather event (i.e.: extreme heat, hurricane etc.) Cherry Hill Township emergency officials will provide important information about the event and how to stay safe.
This information will be posted on the Cherry Hill Township website as well as on the Cherry Hill Township, Cherry Hill Police, and Cherry Hill Fire Department Facebook pages.
All residents, as well as those who work and visit Cherry Hill Township are encouraged to become familiar with these sites. There will be useful information and important messages from emergency officials leading up to the event. During the event Cherry Hill OEM, Police and Fire officials as well as the Mayor will have important information on these sites as well as at predetermined locations throughout the Township.
You can also stay informed by signing up to receive e-mail alerts. Go to www.cherryhill-nj.com/list.aspx, enter your e-mail address, and select “Emergency Alerts,” “Mayor’s Briefings” and “Cherry Hill Headlines” to ensure you stay up-to-date on the most relevant information in any situation.
Other valuable information can be found through NOAA Weather Radio, the National Weather Service, and at Ready.gov, a FEMA site with comprehensive information on how to plan, prepare and respond during an emergency.
The Cherry Hill Office of Emergency Management can be reached at (856) 432-8836 or kseta@cherryhillpolice.com.