Iron County Emergency Management

09/06/2018

Iron County Sets for Next CERT Basic Course.

The next CERT Basic Course is scheduled for September 21,22,27 and 28.
Fridays will be from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Saturdays will be from 9 am to 4 pm.
All Classes will be held at the Heritage Center, 105 N. 100 E. Cedar City.
For more information, contact George Colson, Iron County Emergency Manager at [email protected].

06/14/2018

Your Car Interior gets HOT!
The interior of your car gets hot in a hurry! Heated interiors are death chambers for children and pets. Here are some tips to consider:
1. LOOK before you LOCK: make checking your back seat a habit if you have kids at home.
2. REMINDER: if you have a child seat in the back of your car, make it a habit to have a stuffed animal in the seat. When a child is in the seat, have the stuffed animal in the front seat to help you remember.
3. CHECK! If someone else is transporting you child, make sure you have that person's cell number and call them to make sure your child arrived safely.
4. KEYS. Keep your keys out of reach of children. Nearly 3 in 10 heatstroke deaths in kids happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle.
5. PETS. Unless your pet is a working dog - what the ADA considers a service animal, leave your pet home while you run to the store. YOUR pet is not permitted in most stores, and your keeping your pet in your shirt, purse, or wherever is a violation of the law and you are being plain rude! DON'T leave your pet in your car because you'll be in the store "for just a minute".
Leaving a pet or child in a hot car "for just a minute" should earn you jail time!

06/04/2018

June is National Pet Preparedness Month!
If you are a pet owner, you should have a 72 hour kit for your pet or pets. Be Ready Utah offers the following for you pet's preparedness:
* Food, water, bowls, litter box, medicine, first aid supplies and health records.
* Leashes and pet carriers should be together and accessible.
* Identify pet-friendly places to stay within a 50-mile radius. Keep your pet with you if at all possible during a disaster.
* Horses and companion livestock should not be turned loose or locked in a barn during an emergency. A large fenced area is the best way to protect your animals in a disaster involving extreme weather events.
* Always have a weeks supply of food on hand and under cover.
* Have an emergency source of water if services are disrupted.
* Have transportation to evacuate. Remember that borrowing from a neighbor may not be feasible.
* Have current health/vaccination records, proof of ownership and brand or microchip identification.
* Identify nearby and distant evacuation sites – boarding facilities, fairgrounds, arenas etc.
* Keep a first aid kit in your truck or trailer.
Production livestock should not be turned loose or locked in a barn. A large fenced area is the best way to protect your animals in a disaster involving extreme weather events.
* Maintain a contact list of normal and alternate suppliers.
* Know your brand inspectors and extension agents.
* Membership in a growers or producers organization that can provide assistance in an emergency will reduce losses.
* Know how to reach your insurance agent in the event of losses.
* When possible, move stock out of flood or fire zones in advance, provide extra feed in severe weather events.
Other information is available in the E-books offered with the Iron County Preparedness app or at https://www.utah.gov/beready/family/animals.html

06/04/2018

Group of pets standing in front of white background, studio shot

Group of pets standing in front of white background, studio shot

05/31/2018

It is officially time to BBQ!!!
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends the following for safe cooking:
* Only use your grill outside. Keep it away from siding and deck rails.
* Wear short sleeves or roll them up when cooking on the grill.
* Open your gas grill before lighting.
* Use long-handled barbecue tools.
* Keep a three-foot safe zone around grills, fire pits, and campfires. This will help keep kids and pets safe.
* Never leave your grill, fire pit, or patio torches unattended.
* Clean your grill after each use. This will remove grease that can start a fire.
* Place the coals on your grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled.
Have fun this summer, get outdoors! Cook outdoors! Eat outdoors! But most of all, BE SAFE!

05/03/2018

MAY 5TH IS WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY!
You don't have to live in a forested area to be affected by wildfire! Teach your children how to fire smart when camping or hiking; talk to your neighbors about landscaping issues and come together to build a safer neighborhood and community.
For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, visit:http://www.gema.ga.gov/Mitigation/Resource%20Document%20Library/Firewise%20Guidebook.pdf

DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT WILDFIRES!!

04/09/2018

DID YOU KNOW that more than 40 percent of Americans are not abler to cover an emergency expense costing $400.00?? And some of those would have to sell something or borrow money! Don't be caught in an emergency - personal or otherwise - without the financial means to help yourself out!
FEMA's BE READY web site has some great financial preparedness information at https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness.

Or you can stop by the Office of Emergency Management, 581 N. Main Street, Suite II for additional information.

Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful circumstances, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the process of recovery quickly and effic...

03/01/2018

Free Firewood Offered in Brian Head Burn Area, Dixie National Forest

The Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger District is offering free firewood in a large portion of the Brian Head fire burn area. Due to the size of the area burned in the Brian Head Fire, the Dixie National Forest is offering this firewood free of charge to aide in the rehabilitation of the burn area, improve aesthetic features of the forest, and to benefit families in the surrounding communities.

“This is a great opportunity to help clean up after the fire while being able to gather firewood for personal use,"says Veronica Magnuson, Cedar City District Ranger.

For more information, go to:

Dixie National Forest Supervisor's Office 1789 N Wedgewood Ln Cedar City, UT 84721 (435)865-3700 TTY for hearing impaired: (435) 865-3719 Fax: (435) 865-3791

02/20/2018

Know your Symbols!
The above symbols on a plastic container mean that the container is manufactured to stored food. HOWEVER, it doesn't necessarily mean you can put water in it! Do not store water in a food-grade container if it had food or cooking oil in it previously. It is extremely difficult to remove the sugars and bacteria that may be in the container. Start with a new food-grade container to store your water; keep stored water away from direct sunlight and in a location where temperatures are fairly consistent. A minimum of a gallon per day per person is recommended. Remember that water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon so store in containers that you can lift and move if you have to, or at least have portable water as part of your water storage plan.

02/15/2018

Mass Care Training!
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is offering a one-hour training opportunity in Mass Care.
This training will be offered here in Cedar City Tuesday, February 27 from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Health Department located at 260 E. DL Sargent Drive. There is no cost for the training.

01/04/2018

IRON COUNTY OFFERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TWO NEW RESOURCES WHEN SEEKING HELP FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.

For some time, Iron County Commissioners have been concerned with the lack of cell phone coverage at the Iron County Shooting Range and in Cedar Canyon along SR 14.

In a collaborative effort, Iron County has now placed an emergency satellite phone at the Iron County Shooting Range and at Woods Ranch in Cedar Canyon. These phones offer emergency communications between the caller and Iron County’s Emergency Services Dispatch Center.

Director of Tourism, Maria Twitchell, states "Emergency communication at the Shooting Range and Woods Ranch recreation areas has been a primary concern of the Iron County Outdoor Recreation department. We are thrilled to have this fantastic resource with our Emergency Management Coordinator, John Higley, who has been instrumental in acquiring the much-needed funding for the emergency phones, as well as supervising their installation. While we hope there is never a need for the phones, it’s an assurance to our citizens that the health and safety for those that recreate at our county parks is our top priority.”

Iron County Sheriff, Mark Gower added, “The Iron County Sheriff's Office is very excited about the addition of these satellite phones in these remote locations. This will help all emergency services in Iron County to rapidly respond to emergencies where there is little or no cell phone coverage.”

“The phones are simple to use,” says John Higley. “One need only open the call box and follow the 4-step instructions. These are a unique and valuable asset to the County, and we hope that individuals will recognize their value and help us maintain and protect them so if and when they are needed, they can serve members of and visitors to our great community in times of need.”