Palatine Emergency Management Agency

Just a quick reminder that you should only be wearing your EMA bright yellow or team vets and jackets when you are working a special event or a real incident. If you need to go into a restaurant or other similar business, please leave the equipment in your vehicle. The reason for this is that the public may misconstrue that you are attempting to garner special favors because of who you are and who you are associated with. I doubt that this is a real problem, but people's perceptions are a reality. I can speak from experience that this was the case when I was a police officer. We are a great group with a solid reputation and I don't want someone unfamiliar with us making disparaging misguided accusations.
 
Thanks for Your Understanding,
Tom Smith

Resolve to Be Ready Campaign

As 2011 - one of the most active years for disasters in recent history - comes to a close and Americans get ready to ring in a new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all Americans to "Resolve to be Ready" in the by making a new year's resolution to be prepared for emergencies.

As a recent report by the National Climatic Data Center highlights, 2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record. This year alone, the U.S. experienced its first hurricane landfall since 2008, the most deadly series of tornadoes since the 1950s, significant earthquakes and severe flooding - hazards that impacted every region of the country. All of these events have served as important reminders that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.