Crawford County OE S

Crawford County O. E. S.
Editor Monica Skeens
November 2007 – December 2007
Department of the Quarter
By Pete Albaugh, Assistant
Chief
Summit Twp Volunteer Fire Department,
Inc
PO Box 51
Harmonsburg PA 16422-0051
Web site www.summitvfd.com
Email summitfire@alltel.net
Fire Chief Gig King
Ambulance Chief Gene Calvert
The Summit Township Volunteer Fire
Department in Harmonsburg, PA was
chartered in 1949, By 30 Summit
Township residents. The mission
statement, "To protect lives and property,
To create good will among the residents of
the community and fellowship among
members". We are located in Northwest
Pennsylvania, Crawford County. We
protect approx. 30 square miles and 2000
permanent residents. With the Conneaut
Lake and Pymatuning Lake resort areas
nearby the transit population increases 5
to 7 thousand during the tourist season.
We provide mutual-aid to 10 surrounding
communities, (Fire and Ambulance).
Our first fire engine was a 1917 American
La France pumper, Over the years the
following list was added, 1946
Reo/Homemade 1150 gallon tanker ,1927
American La France 1000 gpm pumper
w/580 gallon tank ,1964 International /
Howe 500 gpm pumper w/750 gallon tank
,1966 International / Howe 1250 gallon
tanker ,1952 Willys Jeep grass/brush
truck ,1955 Dodge M37 Power wagon
grass/brush truck ,1978 Pemfab / Howe
1500 gpm Pumper w/1000 gallon tank
,1976 Dodge /Braun Ambulance ,1982
Chevrolet / Yankee Coach Ambulance
,1991 Ford / Medtec Ambulance
The current fleet includes:
1997 Chevrolet crew cab, Utility / grass/brush
truck
1999 Ford / Lifeline Ambulance
2000 H.M.E. sfo/ J.C Moore Industries 1250 gpm
Pumper / Tanker W/1800 gallon tank
1978 Pemfab / Howe 1500 gpm Pumper w/1000
gallon tank
2007 HME pumper to be delivered this November
and will replace the current pumper.
This engine will be paid for in full upon arrival
with a Federal Emergency Management Grant for
$285,000. and balance from the Summit
Township Supervisors for a total $346,848.00
.
Tis The Season Fire Prevention
By Mike Betts, Chief Conneaut Lake
Volunteer Fire Dept.
Each year fires occurring during the Christmas
season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over
$930 million in damage. According to the United
Sates Fire Administration (USFA), there are
simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a
safe and happy holiday. By following some of the
outlined precautionary tips, individuals can
greatly reduce their chances of becoming a
holiday fire casualty.
hauled away by a community pickup service.
PREVENTING CHRISTMAS TREE
FIRES
Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie
segments demonstrating how fast a live
Christmas tree can become fully engulfed
in flames. Special fire safety precautions
need to be taken when keeping a live tree
in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill
a room with fire and deadly gases.


Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
Needles on fresh trees
should be green and hard to
pull back from the
branches, and the needle
should not break if the tree
has been freshly cut. The
trunk should be sticky to
the touch. Old trees can be
identified by bouncing the
tree trunk on the ground. If
many needles fall off, the
tree has been cut too long,
has probably dried out, and
is a fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close
to a heat source, including a
fireplace or heat vent. The
heat will dry out the tree,
causing it to be more easily
ignited by heat, flame or
sparks. Be careful not to
drop or flick cigarette ashes
near a tree. Do not put your
live tree up too early or
leave it up for longer than
two weeks. Keep the tree
stand filled with water at all
times.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Maintain Your Christmas Lights
Inspect Christmas lights each year
for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps
in the insulation, broken or cracked
sockets, and excessive kinking or
wear before putting them up. Use
only lighting listed by an approved
testing laboratory.

Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
Do not link more than three light
strands, unless the directions
indicate it is safe. Connect strings
of lights to an extension cord
before plugging the cord into the
outlet. Make sure to periodically
check the wires - they should not
be warm to the touch.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
All decorations should be
nonflammable or flame-retardant
and placed away from heat vents.

Never Put Wrapping Paper in a
Fireplace
It can throw off dangerous sparks
and produce a chemical buildup in
the home that could cause an
explosion.

Artificial Christmas Trees
If you are using a metallic or
artificial tree, make sure it is flame
retardant.
Disposing of Your Tree
Never put tree branches or
needles in a fireplace or
wood burning stove. When
the tree becomes dry,
discard it promptly. The
best way to dispose of your
tree is by taking it to a
recycling center or having it
Do Not Leave Christmas Lights on
Unattended
CANDLE CARE

Avoid Using Lit Candles
If you do use them, make sure
they are in stable holders and
place them where they cannot be
easily knocked down. Never
leave the house with
candles burning.

Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
Do not go near a Christmas
tree with an open flame candles, lighters or
matches.
Finally, as in every season, have working
smoke alarms installed on every level of
your home, test them monthly and keep
them clean and equipped with fresh
batteries at all times. Know when and how
to call for help. And remember to practice
your home escape plan.
Have a great holiday season and a safe
one. Michael F. Betts Fire Chief
Wood Burner Safety
Donie Grinnell Fire Chief
Vernon Central Hose Company
burn plastics, garbage, or wood that has been
treated or painted. These materials give off toxic
gases, which can be harmful to your family and
can cause corrosion throughout your system. Be
sure to stress to little children to stay clear of
your stove and tell them what could happen if
they get to close. When cleaning out the ashes
from your unit, place them in a metal container
with a metal lid, and place it outside well away
from any combustibles. Be sure to always have a
multi purpose fire extinguisher handy, just in
case.
Every house should be equipped with carbon
monoxide detectors as well as smoke detectors.
By following the simple tips above and only
burning the wood or solid fuel recommended by
the manufacturer, you will greatly decrease your
odds of having a fire as a result of your
woodstove. Lastly, don't forget to change the
batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide
Detectors when we turn the clocks back this fall.
Have a happy and safe winter season.
GEHRES WILL BE MISSED
By Kevin Nicholson, Director
Crawford County 911
With cold weather quickly approaching,
many people have already begun using
their fireplaces and wood stoves. According
to the Consumer Product Safety
commission, solid fuel burning appliances
cause about 5 to10 percent of all
residential home fires. Probably the most
common causes of these fires is creosote
buildup in the chimney or flue pipe. I
always recommend to our residents that
you clean the chimney or flue at least
twice a year. I highly recommend that a
professional prior to burning in the stove
for the first time each year do it. This is
also a perfect time for the professional to
inspect your liners, firewalls, joints, and
welds, to ensure there are no cracks or
deterioration. Fire can spread easily
through the smallest of cracks. Ensuring
that your wood stove is properly installed
and maintained is a crucial component of
wood burner safety. It is also critical that
you ensure that your woodstove has
adequate clearance from combustibles
such as walls, ceilings, floors and other
combustible materials, which may ignite
from the radiant heat given off of the
stove itself. When lighting fires in your
stove, never use any type of flammable or
combustible liquids to start a fire. Never
Cochranton and Crawford County are mourning
the loss of one of its leaders Frank Gehres who
died November 2, 2007 at the age of 64 following
a two-month battle with cancer. Frank was a long
time member of the Cochranton Fire and
Ambulance Service and most recently Cochranton
Borough Council.
He held many positions in the department over
several decades and was very active up until his
death. He was also a director and member of the
Crawford-Venango County Fire School.
Frank worked closely with OES/911 as a member
of the Radio Committee for the County Firemen’s
Association. He held that position for over 20
years and was instrumental in the planning and
implementation of the current UHF radio system
now in use in the county.
He was laid to rest with full fire
department honors on Monday November
5th, 2007.
Many in public safety and in the county
will miss Frank’s work, his guidance, and
his presence.
CRAWFORD COUNTY 911
PUTS NEW CONSOLES IN
SERVICE
By Kevin Nicholson, 911
Director
After nearly two years of careful detailed
planning Crawford County 911 replaced its
radio consoles the first week of October.
The old consoles placed in service back in
1990 were replaced with Motorola Gold
Elite PC based consoles.
The planning began back in January of
2006 when the application for funding was
made with PEMA. Funds were awarded
late in the year from the Act 56 Wireless
Contribution program. Then in early 2007
engineering began by Motorola and its
local vendor MOBILCOM. Contracts were
soon signed and a target date of October
1st was set which would get the
department past the busy summer
season. The slower time was needed
because not only were the old metal and
mechanical consoles being removed but
the entire central electronics bank (CEB)
that controls the consoles had to be shut
down.
The CEB had to be completely rebuilt and
all equipment contained in it had to be
replaced. This brought up a number of
challenges the biggest of which was how
to dispatch during the down period of
approximately 3 days.
Several meetings were held between 911
Administration, 911 Shift Leaders,
MOBILCOM, and Windstream to work out
every detail.
During the shutdown and replacement of
the consoles two dispatchers were kept at
the 911 center to answer phones and
handle law enforcement traffic. Two more
dispatchers were sent to our backup site to
handle Fire/EMS dispatching.
On October 1st the old consoles were removed
and the CEB was rebuilt. The next day the
furniture portion of the consoles arrived and
assembled. On October 3rd MOBILCOM installed
the new radio consoles. Windstream re-installed
the call taking computers followed by the county
computer network and Computer Aided Dispatch
equipment.
A county wide siren and minitor test was held
that night to make sure all equipment and
dispatch tones were working properly. The
following morning on October 4th the backup
center was closed down and normal operations
were resumed.
Through the cooperation of many agencies,
vendors, police, fire and EMS agencies the entire
project was completed without any problems.
Public safety responders are encouraged to come
and view the new equipment and see first hand
how it operates.
Old Police Console
Old Fire Console
After the last announcement on the
OLD Console
Back up Site while Work in
Progress @ Center
Inside the Back up Site
Actual Dispatching at the back up site,
wasn’t always the easiest and a
combined team effort.
Tear down of old consoles
New Furniture to replace old Console
Installing Old & New equipment
All Frequency Page on Centracom Elite
Dispatch
L-R – CAD first 2 screens,
Centracom Elite Dispatch, Sentinel
911 (Phone)
Emergency Alert Tones Page on
Centracom Elite Dispatch
Police Page on Centracom Elite
Dispatch
Non Emergency Alert Tones Page on
Centracom Elite Dispatch
Titusville Police Department
Retirements
By Gary L. Thomas, Captain
Titusville Police Department Lieutenants
Wyatt Nichols and Claude Lemley both
recently retired from the force. On
October 2, 2007 Lt. Lemley retired from
the department with over 17 years of
service. He was hired in June 1990. In
November 2001, Claude was promoted to
the rank of Lieutenant. Lt. Nichols started
with the department in February 1991.
He retired at the end of July 2007 after 16
years of service with the department.
Wyatt served as a Sergeant from
November 1998 to November 2001when
he was promoted to Lieutenant. Titusville
Police Department will miss both officers.
Vernon Township Police
acquire a 2nd K-9
By Chief Randy
Detzel
is Sgt. John Labow. King will begin his training in
narcotics detection next month.
Vernon Township Police receive
Wood Carved Statue
By Chief Randy Detzel
Wood carving of K-9 Schafer commissioned by
Vernon Township from artist/sculpter, Brian
Sprague of Venango, PA. Schafer was placed on
the front lawn of township building and dedicated
on August 16, 2007. Schafer was the first K-9 in
Crawford County and was in service from 1995 to
2003. (Started in 1997 in Vernon Township).
Vernon Township Police Chief
Retires
John “Jack” Rictor was hired part-time in Vernon
Township in 1987, and became chief in 1995.
Jack was an officer for 20 years in Vernon
Township. His co-workers and those of us here
at the 911 Center will greatly miss talking to and
seeing him out and about every day. Good Luck
with your Retirement Jack.
Crawford County Office of
Emergency Services Receives
Vehicles & Equipment from
Homeland Security Funding.
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
King is an 11-month-old German Shepard
dog, acquired on October 11, 2007 from
kennel in Germany. King flew by airplane
from Germany to Chicago. King's handler
Crawford County Office of Emergency Services
has received vehicles, trailers, and equipment
from Federal Homeland Security Funding from
PEMA through the Northwest Pennsylvania
Emergency Response Group. These vehicles are
available to public safety agencies in
support of all-hazards types of
emergencies by contacting an OES
Director through the 911 Center. Below is
a short summary of each vehicle and their
primary function and capabilities.
2007 Chevy Suburban - Four-wheel
drive, hauls five people. Operates as a
field incident command post out of the
back of the unit. Has UHF, VHF, and Low
emergency frequencies used by all NW PA
emergency agencies. Also has NIMS
vests, portable charger, command charts,
maps, and a blue tent with sidewalls for
inclement weather field command post
operations. Currently being housed at the
Crawford County Courthouse in Meadville.
2006 Ford F-350 - Four-wheel drive,
four-door crew cab with utility box. Used
for towing large trailers. Has UHF, VHF,
and Low emergency frequencies used by
all NW PA emergency agencies. Currently
is being housed at the SCUBA and HazMat
Station in Vernon Township.
2005 Ford F-150 - Four-wheel drive, four-door
with cap over the bed. Used as an OES Quick
Response Vehicle for HAZMAT incidents and other
emergencies and disasters. Carries absorbent
socks, pads, booms, and granular materials in an
over pack drum. Has UHF, VHF, and Low
emergency frequencies used by all NW PA
emergency agencies. Has ICS Vests and charts
to set-up a quick command post. Currently being
housed at the Crawford County Courthouse in
Meadville.
2005 Kawasaki Mule (Unit 7-24) 2006 haled on
Big Tex Mule Trailer - This all wheel drive ATV
can haul two or four people in an enclosed cab
that is heated. A dump bed on the back can be
used for equipment or a stretcher. It will have
lights, PA system, siren, and UHF radio with UHF
portable. ATV has a winch and can be used for
injured persons off the roadway, grass fires, lost
person searches, and special events. Currently it
is being housed at Conneaut Lake Vol. Fire Dept.
Water Buffalo - This mobile water tank can haul
up to 450 gallons of drinking water. It requires a
pintle hitch and at least a small dump truck to
haul loaded. Can be used for a drinking water
emergency or long emergency operation.
Currently being housed at the Crawford County
Jail.
2004 Car Mate WMD Trailer - This
trailer hauls the Zumro Decontamination
Tent, which is an inflatable tent that can
be used for fine decontamination,
command post, and rehab tent. The tent
comes with a water heater, soap injector,
heat and exhaust fan. Other equipment
the trailer stores is Millennium Suits with
full-face respirators and Sigmon
emergency evacuation suits. Trailer has
exterior quartz lighting and a pull down
awning. Currently is being housed at the
SCUBA and HazMat Station in Vernon
Township.
1997 Fame Communication/Command
Trailer (Unit 42-24) - Owned by the Crawford
County Hazardous Materials Response Team
Incorporated, this mobile command and
communication trailer has been equipped by OES
with UHF mobile radios, weather station,
telephone and video cable connections, wireless
interface, refrigerator, heat, and AC. In the back
is a large dry erase board and map of the county.
There are two awnings on both sides that extend
and the trailer can run off of commercial electric
hook-up or by generator. The Trailer can be
used as a mobile command post, rehab unit, or
communication unit for any long-term all-hazards
emergencies including HazMat, lost person
searches, large fires, or special events. Currently
is being housed at the SCUBA and HazMat
Station in Vernon Township.
Requesting State and Federal
Resources
If any public safety agency needs
equipment or personnel from certain state
or federal agencies including the Army
National Guard, US Military Reserve, US
Coast Guard, and Civil Air Patrol, during
emergencies, these requests must come
through the Crawford County 911 Center
who will contact the County EMA Director.
A specific form needs to be filled out by
the County EMA Director, which is then
sent to PEMA who will then forward to the
Governor for approval or disapproval.
The cost of any request for equipment and
personnel should always be considered
before making a request. If a public
safety agency requests assistance from
certain private or public resources without
first finding out what costs are associated
with them, that requesting agency will
have to pay the bill for the resource
requested. Crawford County EMA Staff
can assist public safety agencies in
identifying resources and logistical needs
and to be a liaison with them during
emergencies.
There are also many resources available
now in Pennsylvania due to increased
Federal Homeland Security Funding being
allocated to the nine Regional Emergency
Response Groups. Future news articles
will showcase some of those resources
available in the Northwest Region as well
as other nearby regions that are available
to public safety agencies.
Crawford County EMA
Certification Exercises
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
Over thirty people comprising of the
Crawford County Emergency Operations
Center Staff met twice in September to
practice working together during disasters
in two emergency operations center
exercises. When a county hires a new
emergency management agency director,
that person must take state and federal
courses, participate in tours of PEMA
Western Area Office in Indiana and PEMA
Headquarters in Harrisburg, pass a written
test, and pass a functional exercise administered
by PEMA. This exercise was one of the last
requirements that EMA Director Allen Clark had
to complete to obtain his state certification as an
emergency management director. The EOC Staff
were faced with numerous simulated disasters
across the county and were evaluated on how
well the team communicated, managed
resources, and responded to stressful situations.
The simulated disasters included; plane crash
into a dam, tornado damage through out the
county, motor vehicle accident on Interstate 79
involving cattle, another motor vehicle accident
with radioactive and chemicals, evacuation of two
schools from gas release, a hostage situation,
and a nursing home sustaining damage. A final
after action report and evaluations will be sent to
the Crawford County Commissioners within two
months of the exercise. “This exercise not only
tests the abilities of the county EMA Director, but
tests the ability of the County EOC Staff, how
County Government is prepared, and the entire
public safety system in Crawford County,”
remarked Timothy Baughman, PEMA Western
Area Director. Allen would like to again thank
everyone that participated in the two exercises
and for their continued support and dedication to
public safety through out the county.
Association of PA HazMat
Technicians Annual
Conference
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
PEMA, EPA, and other nationally known speakers.
The Conference concluded with a presentation by
FBI Special Agent who discussed his role as the
FBI HazMat Safety Officer at United Flight 93
crash in Somerset County on September 11th.
Cathy McCracken took the New Members Oath
administered by Frank Docimo, a nationally
recognized speaker and motivator. The
Association has over 700 members and is
comprised of Hazardous Materials Technicians
across Pennsylvania. Past HazMat Team
Member, David Henry, was recognized and
remembered at the Annual Business meeting
Saturday night at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel
in Harrisburg. Gail Anderson from Warren
County HazMat was elected as the third Western
Region Director with Allen Clark and Jim
Kuemmerlee from the Silver Team from
Allegheny County. “This is a great conference to
meet and network with other HazMat Technicians
and experts in the field of HazMat,” said Dr.
Baros. HazMat Vendors lined the hallways
promoting the latest equipment and technology.
HazMat Training and exercises in Western Region
will be scheduled for next year with HazMat
Teams in Western Pennsylvania. If any HazMat
Technicians are interested in joining the
Association please contact anyone from the
Crawford County HazMat Team. The State
Association’s web page is www.pahazmat.org
The Knowledge Center
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
The Crawford County Hazardous Materials
Response Team Incorporated represented
the Team at the 13th Annual Association of
the Pennsylvania Hazardous Materials
Technicians in Harrisburg October 4
through the 6. 3rd Assistant Chief Cathy
McCracken and Dr. Brandi Baros attended
numerous classes and lectures during the
week. Western Region Association
Director Allen Clark also attended.
Courses held at the Harrisburg Area
Community College included: Chemical
Identification, Compressed Gases,
Radiological Response, HazMat
Transportation, HazMat Safety Officer,
Current Issues in PA HazMat, Working
with the FBI, Understanding Air
Monitoring, and NFPA 472 Updates.
Speakers included FBI, US Postal Service,
The Northwest Pennsylvania Emergency
Response Group has purchased a web-based
system that is currently being used of all of
Western Pennsylvania. This web-based system
has the following capabilities: Incident/Event
status board used by all of Western PA EMA/911
Agencies; Messaging between users logged into
the system; Mapping with GIS capabilities;
Resource inventory and request management
tool of people, facilities, equipment, supplies;
Event action log with detailed and time stamped
records management. NIMS compliant;
Resources of web-links to weather, cameras,
state and federal sites; Emergency Support
Function checklists and forms; and SARA Tier II
inventory and billing module. County level
emergency personnel and emergency operations
staff will be trained on using this system
first with access at a later time to
emergency officials at the municipal level.
This system is a great tool and is a onestop location for all resources, emergency
agencies, and critical infrastructure in
Western Pennsylvania that can be used
during emergencies and disasters for
coordination and communication.
Continuity of County Government
Planning
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
Allegheny College Table Top
Exercise
By Allen Clark, Emergency
Management Director
On October 2 Allegheny College
participated in a table to exercise with
their emergency management team. The
exercise scenario was severe weather
including weather watches and warnings,
power outages, damages to buildings, and
simulated student injuries. The exercise
facilitated by Crawford County OES gave
the team realistic scenarios that they had
to make decisions regarding the safety of
the over 2,100 students and 500 faculty
according to their emergency operations
plan. This was the first time the
emergency management team had been
brought together in their emergency
operations center to work together as a
team in responding to wide spread
campus emergencies. Following the
National Incident Management System
core principals, Allegheny College’s team
used common communications, operated
in unified command, allocated resources
effectively, and provided quick and
accurate information to students, parents,
and the media. President Cook
participated in this exercise along with all
the Department Deans and Safety
Personnel, which comprise the College’s
Emergency Management Team. Future
tabletop and functional exercises will be
planned to continue to build upon their
emergency plan and operational skills.
Crawford County Government is continuing to
prepare for all types of emergencies that may
affect the operation of county government.
Several people in county government are working
on the Continuity of Government Plan, which
addresses what government functions are
essential and need to be established first if the
courthouse building had sustained damage, if the
employees were unable to come to work due to a
Flue Pandemic type incident, and if both the
building and employees were affected. The
Judicial side of County Government is being
coordinated by Mr. John Shuttleworth, the Court
Administrator, Mr. Tim Kelley is addressing all
technology and data backup, and Mr. Mark
Peaster Assistant to the Chief Clerk, and EMA
Director Allen Clark are addressing the Executive
Branch of County Government and working with
potential back up locations to house county
government. Later in 2008 a formal plan will be
established and reviewed by all branches of
county government for approval and adoption.
Training and exercises will be conducted to test
the plans and procedures with county
government department heads and senior elected
officials. No one knows when an emergency may
occur and everyone must plan to be prepared for
disruptions at work, home, or while traveling,
NIMSCAST & EOP Seminars
By Don Bovard, Operations &
Training Officer
During the month of September our office
conducted four NIMSCAST & EOP
Seminars. First was Hydetown, next was
Linesville, and the final two were held in
Meadville. Emergency Management
Coordinators and elected / appointed
officials from forty-one of the County’s
fifty-one municipalities attended the
seminars.
The presentations commenced with a
short review of the National Incident
Management System (NIMS). That was
followed by the introduction of the NIMS
Compliance Assistance Support Tool
(NIMSCAST).
NIMSCAST is basically an Internet survey
that allows jurisdictions to complete a
comprehensive self-assessment of their
compliance with NIMS. A series of 115
questions assists municipalities with
identifying their NIMS compliance
successes and shortfalls. NIMSCAST also
allows for the documentation of Corrective
Action Plans for non-compliance.
The final segment of the seminars
pertained to Emergency Operations Plans
(EOP). The PEMA 2007 Local Planning
Model was introduced. It detailed the new
EOP format to be used by municipalities
when updating their current plans. The
new format incorporates the principles of
NIMS and much of the language used in
the State EOP and the National Response
Plan (NRP). The three components, Basic
Plan, Functional Checklists, and
Notification and Resource Manual, were
reviewed. The maintenance of each
component was also discussed.
The attendees were provided with
literature that included the NIMS
Implementation Activities Schedule, the
NIMS Training Guidelines, and the Federal
Grants Identified Requiring NIMS
Compliance flyer. They also received the
PEMA 2007 Local Planning Model CD for the new
EOP format.
These seminars satisfied the quarterly training
requirements for Emergency Management
Coordinators. The next quarterly training session
will be held on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007, at
7:00 P.M. at the Meadville Central Fire Station.
Crawford County Healthcare
Advisory Council
By Don Bovard, Operations & Training
Officer
In April 2007 Golden Living Center’s Crawford
County facilities (Cambridge Springs, Meadville,
and Titusville) formed the Crawford County
Healthcare Advisory Council (CCHCAC). The
Council provides a forum for a broad range of
community leaders and representatives to
discuss issues pertinent to the delivery of
healthcare and other services to the citizens and
nursing home residents of the County.
The Crawford County Healthcare Advisory
Council’s purpose is to help build a community
partnership to improve:





The communities of the County.
The delivery of services in all industries,
but especially healthcare.
Long Term Care in the County and the
State.
Operating policies to benefit County and
nursing home residents.
Relationships between healthcare
providers, agencies, and other industries
in order to assist each other and work
together.
OES staff members have been attending the
bimonthly Council Meetings to provide input on
emergency preparedness and other topics. We
have stressed cooperation amongst competing
extended care facilities in regards to disaster and
evacuation planning. In the event of a disaster,
patient care should come first. The various
nursing homes in the County should work
together to ensure that evacuees are safe and
secure. Each facility is required by law to have
and maintain a written disaster plan. We are
going to emphasize the importance of updating
the plan on a regular basis, reviewing the
plan with all personnel on at least an
annual basis, and practicing the plan on a
periodic basis. It is imperative that the
plan identifies a primary evacuation
facility and at least one alternate site.
This is a lesson learned from the recent
Gulf State hurricanes.
The Advisory Council’s goal is to improve
the quality of nursing home care,
healthcare, and the communities of
Crawford County. Our goal at OES is to
help with this endeavor. One way to
accomplish this goal is to recruit additional
members for the Council. Anyone
interested in participating should contact
Garth Ploski, Director of Marketing &
Admissions at Golden Living Center –
Cambridge Springs. He can be reached at
814-398-4626 or by e-mail at
garth.ploski@goldenliving.com.
Involvement in the Council is vital to the
Crawford County community as it explores
ideas and perspectives related to
healthcare and nursing home care.
Fireman’s Association
By Thomas Cullen, President
FASP
member of the Union City Volunteer Fire
Department. The new position I hold is very
important position for the firefighters of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The FASP has many functions to benefit the
members of the volunteer fire service in this
great Commonwealth. We are your voice in
government both state and federal; we speak for
the silent majority who for whatever reason
choose not to contact their legislatures. We voice
our concerns about proposed legislation and the
effects that it will have on the front line
firefighters.
As a member of this Association you help to
solidify our numbers and help us bring a stronger
message to the legislatures; when we are able to
show the number in our membership.
There are also personnel and departmental befits
to being a member of the FASP.
As a department member you are eligible to
participate in an awards program. One of these
awards is a valor award for a member of the
department as submitted by your officers or a
unit valor award if the act was done by group of
your members. The winners of these awards are
passed on for federal recognition.
Another department award with a finical benefit
is Fire prevention award; this award is based on
population of the area you serve. This year the
first place winner of this program received $800
from VFIS Insurance and an additional $650 from
the FASP.
This is a benefit for documenting what you do for
the members of your community.
As the newly elected president for 2008 of
the Firemen’s Association of the State of
Pennsylvania, FASP, I would like to
introduce myself to you. Some of you
already know me as the treasure of the
Crawford County Firemen’s Association
and a life member of the Mill Village
Volunteer Fire Department and current
There is a personal benefit for being a individual
member of the FASP as well. The FASP pays $500
death benefit. A second benefit of membership is
the scholarship program. The graduating seniors
of a member of the FASP and a Fire, Rescue
and/or EMS department of the Commonwealth
are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship toward
an Associate degree program or $1000
scholarship toward a Bachelor degree program.
We give one in each of the six regions of
the state totaling $9000. With a grant the
FASP was able to give out twice this
number of scholarships.
Some of the departments of Crawford
County already belong to the FASP and
are enjoying these benefits. I would like to
encourage you personally and as
department to join the FASP. These are
there for you use them.
There are other benefits we are currently
working on, in an attempt to improve
what you will receive as member.
If you have any question about the FASP
or applications you can see me at the
Crawford County Association meetings or
email me tscullen@verizon.net.
Membership Application
Scholarship Application
Activation of the County
Animal Response Team
(CART)
The Crawford County Animal Response
Team will activate solely at the direction
of the Crawford County Office of
Emergency Services to assist in any
emergency/disaster involving animals.
Assistance from the Crawford CART
includes but is not limited to: situation
assessment, capture, containment,
temporary shelter, transportation and
disposal of animals involved in
emergencies/disasters. At no times do
Team members act on their own without
the knowledge and sanction of the Office
of Emergency Services. CART does not
respond to direct calls from State Police,
concerned citizens, or other nonEmergency Services staff.
Small Animals (Dogs & Cats):
In Crawford County, the CART Small Animal
Coordinator is Leroy Sterns, who is also the
Director of the Crawford County Humane Society.
In cases of small animal emergencies or
disasters, Mr. Sterns should be contacted for
assistance. In many cases, his response will be
under the auspices of the Humane Society. In
cases in which the Emergency Management
Director has determined a state of emergency,
Mr. Sterns may elect to activate trained
community volunteers under the CART directive.
Large Animals:
In Crawford County, the CART Large Animal
Coordinator is David Allman, who is the owner
and operator of Hog Heaven Rescue Farm. In the
case of an emergency or disaster involving a
large animal, Dave Allman should be contacted.
Situations involving large animals can, by nature
of the size of the animals, endanger other
citizens of Crawford County. If the Emergency
Management Director (or his Emergency Staff)
identifies an emergency, Mr. Allman should be
contacted to assess the situation on site and
determine the best course of action for
assistance.
Owners will be involved, whenever possible and
as much as possible, in any decisions involving
the large animal(s). Owners will bear the cost of
emergency efforts relating to the large animal(s),
such as transportation or veterinary services.
NOTE: The Crawford County Humane Society has
trained staff to deal with neglect/abuse issues.
Long term problems or reports of abuse are
handled through the Humane Society. CART is
not activated for these types of problems unless
the Emergency Services Director deems the
situation to be a disaster or emerg ency.