· Developed the FIRST Multi-Jurisdictional Risk Assessment and All Hazards Mitigation Plan in the nation to be approved by WVOES and FEMA Region III under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.          Approval received July, 2003

· Developed a Counter-Terrorism Annex to the Risk Assessment and All Hazards Mitigation Plan for Jefferson County.

· Recognized by Shenandoah Valley Project Impact “For partnership in making the Shenandoah Valley Disaster Resistant”  July, 2003

· Recognized by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce “For gratitude for your outstanding dedication to the care and safety of the Citizens of Jefferson County” at the Public Service Recognition Banquet.  October 22, 2003.

· Developed a formal Animals in Disaster Plan.   Adopted by the Jefferson County Commission.  December, 2003

· Mentioned in WV Plan and Build Magazine in an article, “How to Plan for Effective Change in West Virginia”   March, 2004

· National Weather Service Designation as a StormReady Community.  April, 2004

Some of our Training & Education Activities

· SkyWarn Storm Spotter Training with the National Weather Service.  Classes offered in BASIC StormSpotting, Advanced StormSpotting, Winter Storm and Flooding. 

· Business Continuity Planning/Disaster Planning for Businesses and Organizations

· National Flood Insurance Program Courses for Lending Institutions, Real Estate Agencies and Insurance Agencies.  CEUs are available for most of these courses.

· FEMA Course:Emergency Planning for Special Populations taught in the community.

· CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) Training.  This training is for individuals with no prior experience.  It teaches BASIC skills in Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety, Disaster First Aid, Light Search & Rescue, Crime Prevention and Terrorism, Disaster Mental Health, CERT Volunteerism and More!  Neighbors helping Neighbors in times of Emergencies.

· Office for Domestic Preparedness Basic Awareness Training on Weapons of Mass Destruction

· How to put together a Family Disaster Plan and an Emergency 72-Hour Supply Kit

· Children’s Programs about Fire & Disaster Safety

These are just a FEW of our available trainings.  If you have a request, let our office know!
Text Box: Some of our Accomplishments

A Note from the JCOHS Coordinator:

It is my sincerest hope for you that this community will never have a need to use the training that we have learned, that our disaster supply kits will only be used when we take them camping with us just to see if we really have everything that we need, and that the sun will continue to shine upon a prosperous and safe community.  However, if this isn’t to be, I want you to ready for the day that the power goes out, your computer goes down, trees from a windstorm trap you inside of or outside of your community, floodwaters cover your road so that you can’t “get there from here”,  a hazards materials hauler spills his load along the highway making it necessary for you to shelter-in-place, or when something happens within the region making it necessary for us to decontaminate, shelter or otherwise take care of ourselves and our neighbors.

It cannot be said enough….have a plan, have a kit, exercise every “what if” scenario that you can while the sun continues to shine.

If you are not yet a JCOHS Partner, please consider this your invitation to become involved.  Preparedness is EVERYONE’s responsibility.  Give me a call and I’ll be happy to talk to you or your group about how to become better prepared.

Barbara J. Miller, Coordinator

Jefferson County Office of Homeland Security