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Public Safety Department

Angelo M. Nuzzo, Director
216-433-1300
anuzzo@cityofbrookpark.com
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program

Click on the CodeRED Emergency Notification logos above for program registration and information

SEVERE WEATHER AND CITY SIREN INFORMATION

SEVERE WEATHER SEASON IS UPON US—BE PREPARED!

With springtime in full swing and the clash of the cold winter air with the warm summer air trying to take over, the potential for damaging severe weather increases dramatically. In fact, April through July are the peak months for tornado occurrence in Ohio. The City of Brook Park has installed an outdoor warning siren system to alert our residents of approaching severe weather.
Outdoor warning sirens are the most effective method to warn people at large in the shortest amount of time that a hazard exists. They are designed to warn people that are outside and not inside a residence or building. If the outdoor warning sirens are activated, residents should immediately seek shelter and determine the nature of the hazard by listening to the local radio or television or NOAA Weather Radio. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT CALL 911, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THE SIRENS ARE ACTIVATED.
The decision to activate the outdoor warning sirens is based on information that is available at the time. Sometimes this information is incomplete and changes rapidly. In the interest of safety, it is the policy of the city to err on the side of caution. The outdoor warning sirens will be activated in order to give residents as much time as possible to take measures to ensure their safety.
An outdoor warning siren system is only successful if everyone knows how it sounds, the meaning behind the different sounds, and that the system is operating properly. Therefore, as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), we conduct a full test of our warning sirens monthly to ensure that the residents of the community become familiar with the sounds and that the system is operating as it should. The tests are short and very much necessary to ensure the residents are familiar with various siren sounds. The warning sirens will be tested at noon (12 pm) on the first Saturday of every month. For the purposes of testing, the alert warning will sound for 1 minute followed by 1 minute of silence, and then the attack warning will sound for 1 minute completing the test.
The alert warning is a steady pitch sound, and when the sirens are normally activated for an emergency, they will sound for 3 minutes. The alert warning signal is a means to alert residents to peacetime emergencies such as a severe weather warning, hazardous material incident, or a tornado warning (The attack warning is a warbling (wailing) pitch sound. The attack warning signal shall mean that an actual attack against the country had been detected and that protective action should be taken immediately).
The National Weather Service will issue a SEVERE WEATHER WATCH or TORNADO WATCH when conditions are favorable for their development. Listen to your local news or radio stations or NOAA Weather Radio for up-to-date weather information.
The National Weather Service will issue a SEVERE WEATHER WARNING or TORNADO WARNING when severe weather or a tornado has been detected by Doppler radar or sighted by storm spotters. Seek safe shelter immediately when a warning is issued—get to the lowest level of your home---away from the windows and under something sturdy. Continue to monitor your local news or radio stations or NOAA Weather Radio for up-to-date weather information.

Tornado Safety Tips
Whether practicing a tornado drill or sheltering during a tornado warning, the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness encourages everyone to DUCK.
D – Go DOWN to the lowest level
U – Get UNDER something
C – COVER your head
K – KEEP in shelter until the storm has passed
• Be prepared for severe weather before a storm watch or warning is issued. Meet with household members to develop a disaster plan to respond to all hazards, including tornado watches and warnings. Conduct regular tornado drills. Know how to turn off the water, gas and electric at the main switches.
• If you are a person with special needs, register your name and address with your local emergency management agency, police and/or fire departments before any natural or man-made disaster occurs.
• The NOAA Weather Radio has alerting tools available for people who are hearing impaired. Some weather radio receivers can be connected to an existing home security system, similar as a doorbell, smoke detector or other sensor. For additional information, visit the NWS NOAA Weather Radio link: http://www.weather.gov/nwr/special_need.htm
• The safest place to be during a tornado is a basement. If the building has no basement or cellar, go to a small, centrally located room on the lowest level of the building, such as a bathroom or closet or interior hallway.
• If you are in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little or no protection from tornadoes.
• If you are outside with no shelter, lie in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass or bridge. You will be exposed to stronger winds and flying debris.
Since 1978, the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness has been dedicated in educating Ohioans about the natural disasters that typically affect the state, and how to plan and prepare for severe weather incidents and home emergencies before they happen. For additional information on tornado safety and severe weather preparedness, visit the OCSWA Web site at: www.weathersafety.ohio.gov.
 

FROM THE NEWSLETTER

Potential Telephone Solicitation Scam(s)
Be very wary of telephone solicitation calls asking for charitable contributions on behalf of the
Brook Park Police or Fire Departments. We understand that some of our residents have received calls like this over the past several months. Our Police and Fire Departments do not telephone solicit for charitable donations. Calls of this nature should be considered potential scams. If in doubt, ask the charitable organization to send you information. If it’s a scam, asking for information to be mailed to you will usually end the conversation. If they continue to pursue the call, politely tell them you’re not interested and hang up the phone.

Fire Department Promotions
The Brook Park Fire Department has undergone a transformation in their leadership over
the past 9 months which culminated in the retirement of Chief Glenn Krueger. Chief Krueger retired on September 14th after faithfully serving our community for 41 years. Best wishes to Glenn and his wife, Carol, in his retirement. Replacing Chief Krueger was Mark Ramach. Chief Ramach was sworn-in to his new position on September 15th. He has been a member of the department for 27 years serving as Lieutenant for the past 14 years. We also have a new Captain, Domenic Campana who replaced Capt Craig Bittner in May of this year. We’ve also promoted four new lieutenants to fill vacancies created with the new Chief and Captain promotions coupled with the retirements of Lt. Bill Fairman and Lt. Jim Knapik. The new Lieutenants are: Mark Higgins, Eric Fike, Matt Lynch and Dave McCarthy. Congratulations to all on their new appointments, and we wish them much success in their new positions.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program
To become a member of our team, residents can pick up brochures and applications in the front lobby of City Hall and at the receptionist window at the Fire Station on Holland Road. We will conduct our next training session in mid-January 2009, but you don’t have to wait for the training to become a member of the team. We have organizational meetings every 2 months with the next meeting on Saturday, November 15th at 9 a.m. at City Council Chambers. This will be a training exercise to test the capability of our newest CERT members and to provide follow-on TRIAGE training for those that have been in the program for the past year. If you are interested in seeing your CERT at work or you are interested in joining our program, please stop by and observe them in action.

Airport Acquisition Program
Phase I of the Acquisition Program is rapidly coming to a close. By years end, all the
remaining buildings should be demolished. The Cleveland Airport has agreed to allow the City of Brook Park to use the land for recreational purposes until Cleveland determines that they will need the property. Phase I will officially end on April 26, 2009. Per the Settlement Agreement, Cleveland will have seven years beginning on April 27, 2009 to decide whether they want to purchase Phase II, which now includes the homes on Parkland Ave. through Grayfriar Dr. along Sheldon Rd.

Cleveland Hopkins Airport Noise Complaint Hotline: 216-898-5220

Cleveland Hopkins Airport’s Residential Sound Insulation Program
For information, contact
Safety Director Nuzzo at 216-433-1300.