Volunteer Week 2012 in Philadelphia

The Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management recognized the efforts of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SEPA VOAD) today during a ceremony for Volunteer Week 2012 in Philadelphia.

“Volunteer Week in Philadelphia,” said Samantha Phillips, Philadelphia’s Acting Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management, “is an opportunity for us to celebrate the dedication of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.”

SEPA VOAD helps to prepare the region for disaster and coordinate recovery and response. It is a part of a national collaboration of diverse organizations that strive to meet community needs in the wake of a large-scale disaster.

Last year following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, 24 volunteers from four SEPA VOAD agencies responded to Philadelphia’s call for assistance. Those agencies included the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern Pennsylvania, a ministry of Lutheran Congregational Services, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief – Southeastern Pennsylvania, and United Church of Christ Disaster Ministry – Southeastern Pennsylvania Conference. They helped residents clean out and recover from the damaging flood waters associated with those storms.

“All of the work from the SEPA VOAD agencies to support the volunteers and clean out damaged properties,” Phillips said, “was a tremendous service to the City of Philadelphia and those impacted by the storms.

Volunteer Week was established to honor those who dedicate themselves to taking action and improving their community. It’s also about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their community.

For more information, please visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready. You can also follow PhilaOEM on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, MySpace, Blogspot and YouTube.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is April 22 to April 28. This initiative highlights the importance of planning and practicing how and where to take shelter before severe weather, such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, strike.

For information on how to prepare for severe weather, visit the following preparedness pages:

• Flood
• Hurricane, Tropical Storm
• Thunderstorm
• Tornado

Become a Volunteer

We all have role to play in keeping Philadelphia safe and secure. Take simple steps to be prepared for emergencies, such as getting trained in basic first aid and volunteering to help local emergency responders.


How can you participate?


Volunteer as a member of any of these agencies who are helping Philadelphia’s first responders prepare for emergencies:

• American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter
• Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society
• Philadelphia County Animal Response Team
• Philadelphia Fire Department
• Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps
• Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee
• Philadelphia Town Watch Integrated Services
• The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia
• Second Alarmers Association of Philadelphia
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters

React Safely to Fire

 Surviving a Fire: 

• If a smoke detector goes off or if you notice a fire, remain calm. Get out as quickly as possible and stay out.
• Do not try to fight a major fire.
• If your clothes catch on fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to smother the flames.
• If you work in a high-rise office building, know your building’s High-Rise Evacuation Plan, and know two different exits from the building. If there is a fire, do not use the elevator.  If there is smoke in the hallway, return to your apartment or office and call 9-1-1 for instructions.
• Before attempting to open a door, feel it with the back of your hand. If it is hot, find another way out.
• If you see smoke under the door, find another way out.
• Stay as close to the floor as possible. Smoke and heat rise and the air is clearer and cooler near the floor.
• Close all doors behind you.
• Do not stop to get anything.
• Do not use elevators.
• Call 9-1-1 from a safe place such, as a neighbor's house.
• If you are unable to get out for any reason, stay near a window and close to the floor. Close the door and stuff the bottom with a towel to keep out smoke.
• If possible, signal for help by waving a cloth or sheet outside the window.

Statement from Mayor Michael Nutter on the Fire Tragedy

It is with profound sadness that I announce the deaths of two of Philadelphia firefighters who perished early this morning in the line of duty during a five alarm fire. These firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice for the people of Philadelphia. This is a tremendous loss for their families and the City of Philadelphia. My prayers go out to their families and to the Philadelphia Fire Department whose members have lost two of their brothers.

My thoughts also go out to the firefighters and the families of those who were injured in the line of duty this morning. We are grateful that they are receiving the top medical care available.

Our first responders—our fire fighters, police officers and paramedics—are heroes and make unimaginable sacrifices each and every day for the citizens of Philadelphia. I would like to thank them for their service and our hearts go out to those who have lost their colleagues and friends.

Prepare Your Home for Fire

Fire spreads quickly and produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. In fact, heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames.


If fire breaks out in your home, there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames. Fires happen everyday, make sure your household is ready.


 How to Prepare for a Fire: 

• Install smoke alarms. Place smoke alarms on every level, outside bedrooms, at the top of open stairways or at the bottom of enclosed stairs.
• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries twice a year. Make it a habit when you reset your clocks for Daylight Saving Time.
• Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years
• Plan and review escape routes from your home with your family. Practice escaping from each room.
• Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut, and that security gratings or burglar bars on windows have a fire safety opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
• Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one level. and ensure that burglar bars and other anti-theft mechanisms that block outside window entry are easily opened from the inside.
• Teach family members to stay low to the floor (where the air is safer) when escaping from a fire
• Install A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your home and teach family members how to use them
• Make sure your home is insured. If you rent, buy renter's insurance.
• Place heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials. Use extreme caution when using alternative heating sources, such as space heaters.

For additional information, visit the Fire Preparedness page of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management website.