From: Phil Griffith, Director
Date: January 30, 2003
Ref: Year End Report for Year 2002

I am pleased to present the Annual Report form the Emergency Management Agency for the Calendar Year 2002. We have compoiled a list of our classes, activities, inter-department contacts and our citizen contacts for the year. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we will make every attempt to answer your questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Phil Griffith, Director

EARLY WARNING SIREN SYSTEM: The Porter County Emergency Operations Center is now capable of activating all "Early Warning Sirens" located throughout the county (those with radio receivers). The activation can be performed through the use of the repeater system or, in the event the repeater is disabled, we can also use the "Talk Around" feature on the radio to activate the sirens. As new sirens are installed by agencies / communities they will also be connected to the county wide alerting system.

OFFICE AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER: The EMA Office and Emergency Operations Center, located in the Old County Home, is operational. The EOC has the ability of transmitting and receiving radio traffic to all emergency service agencies in the county. The EOC has been utilized on several occasions to track storms as they move through our county. This tracking and radio capabilities will allow for more timely notification of the communities and citizens during potentially disastrous times.

PORTER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN: The "Porter County Emergency Operations Plan" follows the State of Indiana Guidelines and has been approved, after review, by the Porter County Commissioners. The CEMP address "All Hazards", natural or man-made, that may affect Porter County and the citizens that reside within the County.

The CEMP is also under constant review and modification to assure it is up to date and viable. This document is really a "Living Plan" that needs constant review.

ACTIVITIES: The State Emergency AGency continues to utilize some of our progressive educational programs and is hsaring these programs with others throughout the State. (ie. Classes offered, community involvement, check list for emergency agencies) In addition we have provided direct assistance to other counties, such as LaPorte, Lake, Newton and Jasper Counties, to improve their readiness, so they will be available to us should we have the misfortune to need their assistance.

The classes offered and presented by the Porter County Emergency Management Agency cover the following topics: "Are You Ready", "Tornado Safety", "Winter Weather Preparedness", "First-Aid", "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation", "Thunderstorms and Lightening Safety", "AED Usage", "Emergency Preparedness", "Animal Safety and Preparedness During a Disaster", "Severe Weather Spotter Training", FEMA Emergency Preparedness", and "Event Planning".

In addition to the classes we are working with Community organizations and businesses to establish "Emergency Preparedness Plans" within those organizations and facilities. We are also helping the Service Clubs organize so they can provide manageable assistance during any disaster that may occur in our County.

We have had an excellent response to these classes and have had contact with over 2100 people from the various groups and businesses.

In addition to the above, we are working the the Northern Indiana REgional Planning Commission on establishing a regional Mutual Aid Agreement that is acceptable to all communities and counties in the Northwest Region of Indiana.

Started initial phase of establishing a "Community Emergency Response Team", doing research and lining up potential Advisory Board members.

EXERCISING PREPAREDNESS PLANS: We hosted a Bio-Terrorism Exercise at the Porter County EXPO Center for all communities and agencies throughout Porter County. There were 78 people (from various agencies) in attendance at this eight hour event. This event was used to validate the Terrorist Portion of the Porter County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

We assisted at an "Exercise" held at Bethlehem Steel for the Porter County Hazardous Materials Team and the following agencies were involved: Porter County Environmental, Bethlehem Steel, Porter Memorial Hospital-Emergency Medical Services, Burns Harbor Fire Department, Porter County Emergency Management Agency, Chesterton Fire Department, Porter Fire Department, the Porter County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Porter County local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Porter County Amateur Radio Club.

We hosted an "Exercise" in Kouts to determine what areas of the CEMP may need adjustment in the area of the County. This "Exercise" involved the following agencies: Kouts Police, Porter Memorial Hospital-Emergency Medical Services, Kouts Fire Department, East Porter County School Corporation, Porter County Sheriff's Police, Porter County Emergency Management Agency, Kouts Public Works Agency, the Porter County Chapter of the American REd Cross, Porter County Chapter of Sky Warn, and the Midwest Center for Youths.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: The Agency encourages all of the EMA volunteers to complete the FEMA Independent Study Courses, attend State Emergency Management Agency Classes, and attend Safety Classes held at the EOC. In addition we have several volunteers who have completed Red Cross First-Aid, CPR, and AED training.

In addition to presenting classes the staff of this agency attends courses that are required by SEMA and has attended some additional classes in order to serve the County and Communities better. Courses completed by PCEMA Staff include:

Director:
FEMA Classes: 2
SEMA Classes: 48 hours

Deputy Directory:
SEMA Classes: 36 hours

Office Administrator:
SEMA Classes: 24

Volunteers:
SEMA Classes: 36 hours (x5)
FEMA Classes: 5

AGENCY / COMMUNITY CONTACTS: The following list cover the various contacts the agency and staff have had and/or provided services to:

Governmental Units / Entities:

• Town of Beverly Shores
  
• Town of Chesterton
  
• Town of Porter
  
• Town of Burns Harbor
  
• Town of Hebron
  
• Town of Ogden Dunes
  
• Union Township Trustee's Office
  
• City of Valparaiso
  
• City of Portage
  
• Center Township Trustee
  
• Porter County Parks Department
  
• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
  
• Porter County Health Department
  
• Porter County Exposition Center
  
• Porter County Extension Agency
  
• Porter County Local Emergency Planning Committee
  
• Porter County Environmental Agency
  
• Porter County E-9-1-1
  
• Porter County Animal Control
  
• Lake County Emergency Management
  
• LaPorte County Emergency Management
  
• Newton County Emergency Management Agency
  
• Jasper County Emergency Management Agency
  
• Indiana IDEM
  
• Army Corps of Engineers
  
• Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission

• Porter County Fire Association
  
• Indiana Volunteer Firefighter's Association
  
• Bethlehem Steel Fire Department
  
• Burns Harbor Fire Department
  
• Chesterton Fire Department
  
• Kouts Fire Department
  
• Hebron Fire Department
  
• Lake Eliza Fire Department
  
• Lakes of the Four Seasons Fire Department
  
• Liberty Township Fire Department
  
• Pine Township Fire Department
  
• Portage Fire Department
  
• Porter Township Fire Department
  
• South Haven Fire Department (Portage Township)
  
• Union Township Fire Department
  
• Valparaiso Fire Department
  
• Washington Township Fire Department
  
• Westville Fire Department
  
• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

• Burns Harbor Police Department
  
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources
  
• Indiana State Police
  
• ATV
  
• FBI
  
• U.S. Marshall's Service
  
• U.S. Attorney's Office
  
• Porter County Sheriff's Police
  
• Porter Police Department
  
• Portage Police Department
  
• Valparaiso University Police

• Valparaiso Community Schools
  
• East Porter County Schools
  
• Porter Township Schools
  
• Portage Township Schools
  
• Youth Service Bureau
  
• Chesterton High School
  
• Hebron Community Schools
  
• Valparaiso University
  
• Union Township Schools

• Porter Memorial Hospital Radiology Department
  
• Porter Memorial Hospital Emergency Department
  
• Porter Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services
  
• Opportunity Enterprises
  
• Sky Warn (Weather Spotters)
  
• Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis
  
• Valparaiso Morning Kiwanis
  
• Chesterton Rotary
  
• Civil Air Patrol
  
• Steel Worker's Safety Conference (Northwest Indiana)
  
• American Red Cross (Porter County Chapter)
  
• Amateur Radio Operators Group (ARES)
  
• Aldi's Warehouse
  
• Northern Indiana Public Service Company
  
• Life Care Center, Willows Nursing Home
  
• Duneland Girl Scouts
  
• Bethlehem Steel
  
• Hoosier Burn Camp
  
• Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (Burn Camp)
  
• Hoosier Fire Equipment
  
• Visiting Nurses Association
  
• Midwest Center for Youth
  
• The Pipeline Group
  
• Porter County Builder's Association
  
• Radio One Communications
  
• National Weather Service
  
• Porter County Tourism Board
  
• Northwestern Indiana REgional Planning Commission
  
• U.S. Steel Employees