FY2012 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2012 | Page 39

Another area of responsibility for
OEM is public health
emergencies. This summer, the
West Nile Virus (WNV) made its
way to Arlington. In total, 66
Arlington citizens were infected
by this virus that was contracted
from an infected mosquito.
OEM coordinated with the City’s
Public Health Authority and
Community Development &
Planning to respond to this
emergency. Through public
education, mosquito control activities, and communication to the public, as well as to our regional
and state partners, we were able to assist in limiting the impact this virus had on our city.
Additional to our activities in Arlington, OEM made available to other emergency managers in the
region all of the information, presentations and WNV response plans we created so that others
impacted by WNV would be able to
respond as quickly as possible for their
citizens as well.
The unexpected emergencies in Fiscal
2012 have highlighted one area that
OEM is working on that would benefit
Arlington when the next disaster
occurs. Volunteer management is
essential during large disasters,
because so many Arlington citizens want to help their neighbors in times of need. OEM is
bringing together several Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in Arlington to assist coordinating
the many religious groups that want to help in the impacted areas. As an emergency transitions
from a Response Phase into a Recovery Phase, these FBOs will assist Arlington citizens who
still have needs.
In addition to the project above, OEM has also been testing new damage assessment software
that, when completed, will be distributed to the urban area cities in our region for use when large
disasters occur.
OEM has been coordinating the use of Clear Channel digital billboards for emergency
messaging during disasters in Arlington. OEM has taken a lead role in working to establish a
private/public partnership with Clear Channel to expand this program to all cities in our region.
As more gas wells are built in Arlington, the need for response planning and training is
becoming a priority daily. OEM is assisting with the creation of a Gas Well Response Plan and
will create and coordinate a table top exercise to include many City of Arlington departments
and gas well operators.

DUTY

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HONOR

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COMPASSION
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EXCELLENCE

Working Together to Make Arlington Better.