Show Notes
This podcast episode features an interview with April Ford, Director of the Springfield-Greene County Emergency Communications Center, to explore the world of 911. The discussion centers on the evolution and current state of 911 emergency communication systems, including technological advancements like enhanced 911 and next-generation 911. Ford explains different types of 911 systems, call routing procedures, and the use of technologies such as text-to-911 and GPS location services. She...
More from Hometown Ready Emergency Management
When a disaster strikes, who decides when it becomes a “disaster”, and what happens next? In this episode of HometownReady, we’re joined by FEMA Region 7 to break down the disaster declaration process and explain how local, state, and federal partners work together before, during, and after a major event. Learn about FEMA’s role, what goes into requesting a federal disaster declaration, how disaster assistance works, and why understanding each organization’s role matters when a community is w...
When we think about emergency management and public safety, animals might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But from loose or aggressive dogs to emergencies involving pets and animal safety during disasters, Animal Control plays an important role in protecting both people and animals. In this episode of HometownReady, we’re sitting down with local Animal Control professionals to take a closer look at the calls they respond to, the challenges they face, and what the public should know...
Hollywood made storm chasing famous, but the real thing is about much more than dramatic skies and flying debris. In this episode, we’re joined by 417 Storm Chasers Matt Jones and Josh Avers to talk about what it’s really like to track severe weather in the Ozarks. We discuss how they forecast and plan a chase, the importance of safety and responsible storm chasing, and how their observations and storm reports can help other organizations in our community. Whether you’re a weather enthusiast,...
What happens when the emergency isn’t just happening in the hospital, but to the hospital itself? From TV dramas to movies, we’ve all seen the chaos of a hospital during a crisis. But real-world healthcare emergency management looks a little different. In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how hospitals prepare for disasters, who makes the decisions when things go wrong, and how teams coordinate when the pressure is on. Hear about the role of emergency management in healthcare,...
There's a team planning for emergencies long before they occur...and most people don't even know they exist. Settle in to meet the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). In this episode, we sit down with members of our LEPC to talk about what the group actually does, who’s involved, and how agencies, businesses, and responders work together to prepare for hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies. We break down the acronyms (in which there are many), explain the planning process...