BC3 event covers emergency plans
BUTLER TWP — Many disaster training events are for first responders such as firefighters or police officers.
However, the Emergency Preparedness Symposium on Wednesday at Butler County Community College was for the lay person — giving ideas on how to prepare for and deal with natural and man-made disasters.
“It's practical advice on how to survive,” said Steve Catt, executive director of work force development at BC3.
About 30 people participated in the event, some who were first responders, some from insurance companies and others from businesses or community groups.
Speakers from businesses like the Butler Health System, C.W. Howard Insurance and the state Emergency Management Agency talked about ways to be prepared.
Attendees also participated in a “tabletop exercise” of a disaster scenario.
In the scenario, a tornado rips through the county, causing widespread power outages. Most of the damage is in the northern part of the county so all of the first responders are there. Participants in the exercise represented owners of a business in the central or southern part of the county.
The business has no power, and will not be able to get any emergency crews there for a while because they are busy elsewhere.
“What do you do in that situation?” Catt asked.
Steve Bicehouse, director of Butler County Emergency Services, said that the tornado in the scenario was plausible, noting that the county has had two tornado touchdowns this year.
“It's all about encouraging them to develop an emergency plan,” Bicehouse said. “Most businesses don't do that.”
He said some of the actions participants should consider are how to get in touch with employees to tell them the business is closed and what will the business do if it cannot operate for a few months after a disaster.Dan Fritch, who owns a barbershop in Zelienople, attended as a representative of the Zelienople Business Association. He said the event got him to think of ways to prepare for a disaster, not only at his business but at his home as well.“What happens when the power goes out at my house in the middle of winter?” Fritch said.He said he now has a few questions to ask his insurance agent. The event also reminded him to take a video inventory of his home and business for insurance purposes.Chief Michael Simmons of the Slippery Rock University Police noted that one thing to know is that SRU is an evacuation point for the county — a place where people are sent to stay during natural disasters.Mark Molnar and Ginny Hammer were there representing the Butler YMCA.“It opens your eyes up to a lot of things,” Molnar said of the meeting.Hammer agreed: “Any kind of information like this that you can take back is great.”
