Emergency Plans
Planning is an essential step toward insuring that we are properly prepared to deal with adversity
Planning ahead is a necessary step in assuring the safety and well-being of ourselves, family members, our neighbors, community, local businesses and industries, organizations and facilities tasked with caring for our most vulnerable populations. The planning should start at the individual and family level. Guides are provided to assist you in this first important step. Your individual and family planning should include communications, sheltering, evacuations and knowledge of what to do in the initial minutes, hours and days following a significant event.
Planning continues at all levels of the community and includes addressing potential natural, man-made and technological disasters. The plans may be broad based, such as the Schuylkill County Hazard Mitigation Plan or very specific, such as a dam emergency plan affecting only a small portion of a municipality. Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency, along with our network of local municipal coordinators work with partners to develop, exercise and improve the plans.
The sections below provide information on many of our plans and provides guides to assist in your planning process.
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The Schuylkill County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) outlines how the County Government & Municipal Government comply with and implement the requirement of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the county. The Schuylkill County Emergency Operations Plan serves as an emergency management link between school districts, local municipalities, and state government while incorporating the federal organizational concepts of the National Response Framework (NRF). This plan is utilized by the County and all 67 municipalities. Follow this link to the 2018 revision of the Emergency Operations Plan.
Appendix 6-10 to the Schuylkill County Emergency Operations Plan
In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2000), Schuylkill County adopted their first Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2007. DMA2000 required every state, county and city receiving federal mitigation funding to have a Hazard Mitigation Plan. A key component to reducing future losses is to have a clear understanding of what the current hazards are and what steps or strategies may be employed to lessen them. The 2013 Plan Update identifies eleven natural and technological hazards and over 300 action items from the 67 municipalities in Schuylkill County. The 2019 Schuylkill County Hazard Mitigation Plan had been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adopted by the Board of Commissioners and most of the municipalities within the county.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Dam Safety oversees the regulation and safety of dams and reservoirs throughout the Commonwealth in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and their property. This division is required to assure proper planning, design review, construction review, maintenance monitoring and supervision of dams and reservoirs. This requirement is mandated by the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, as amended, and the Pennsylvania Code. The division directs and coordinates field investigations on authorized projects during construction; provides program guidance and coordination to regional program staff in the periodic inspection of all existing dams to determine their condition and safety.
The owner / operator of regulated dams within Schuylkill County follow the guidance provided by PA DEP and work with Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency to insure that vulnerable populations and critical facilities and infrastructure are identified during the planning process, that a mechanism is in place to inform those potentially impacted by a dam failure and coordinate with the municipalities and emergency services.
There are approximately 50 dams within Schuylkill County required to develop and maintain a plan under PA DEP regulations. Follow the link to see the list of dams and the notices of where the plan can be inspected. Dam Emergency Action Plans
Child care facility management personnel have a responsibility to staff members, occupants, parents, and anyone who happens to be in their facility, to develop an Emergency plan. Additionally, Pennsylvania child care regulations and licensing procedures require that a plan be maintained. Each Child care facility shall send a copy of the emergency plan and subsequent plan updates to the County Emergency Management Agency for concurrence and approval.
- PA Code 55 Child Day Care Centers 3270.27 Emergency Plan
- Child Care Emergency Planning Guide
- Child Care Emergency Basic Plan
- Child Care Emergency Checklists
- Child Care Emergency Supporting Documents
There are many sites that can assist you in developing a safety plan for yourself and your family;
Ready.gov is the site operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offers valuable information for Emergency Preparedness and Response
ReadyPA is provided by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and includes information and links to preparedness sites.
The American Red Cross is a valuable community asset during disasters and offers valuable information on How to Prepare for Emergencies