“For our town, you could argue emergency planning and response is as important or more important than say New York or Philadelphia because resources are limited and support from outside our area may be hindered,” Shamong OEM Coordinator John Lyons said.
While Lyons is new to the role, he is already actively looking to enhance Shamong’s emergency management.
“We live in an era where we are increasingly reliant on information, technology, electricity and just-in-time supply chains. I want to encourage every resident to have a plan for themselves and their family, to be prepared and to consider helping out in one of our many volunteer roles if they are willing and able to do so.”
Lyons is taking on the new position with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this line of work. He is actively involved as team leader for the Pinelands Community Emergency Response Team, a group of volunteers that reside in Shamong, Tabernacle, Medford, Bass River and other nearby towns.
The Pinelands CERT team assists with community events that teach preparedness and planning for emergency situations. The team also can be called up by the Office of Emergency Management in any of the four mentioned towns to respond and help support the efforts of first responders.
“Planning, coordination and response is something I deal with everyday,” Lyons said.
Lyons deflected much of his expertise to Col. William Lowe who he proclaimed as his mentor. Lowe is the OEM coordinator for Tabernacle and is responsible for the Pinelands CERT program.
“Working with Col. Lowe helped prepare me for this responsibility and also provided a great network of resources to call on when I have questions,” Lyons said. “And I have many!”
After being appointed as the OEM coordinator in January, Lyons’ first plan of action was to get to know the people and resources in the township. He met with the leadership and some volunteers of the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire and EMS Department, groups Lyons referred to as brave individuals who give of their time and place their lives in harm’s way under dangerous conditions.
“Our first responders are professionals and deserving of our support and praise,” Lyons said.
The OEM team consists of the coordinator and his two deputies, Stanley Rowe and Wallace Pickard, both residents of the township who have been actively involved in various roles of emergency response for years.
Rowe and Wallace have provided great resources with their experience and institutional knowledge. Rowe is also captain of the IMVFD Fire Police, and Wallace is a retired brigadier general with the U.S. Air Force.
Lyons also paid homage to his public works team, specifically Norman Welsh, Gary Welsh, Steve Mitchell and their part-time helpers for the hours of time they spent clearing the roads in the recent snow storm.
“We have an amazing Public Works team who don’t get enough credit for the long hours and tough work of clearing the roads, keeping equipment running and being out in conditions when we’re telling everyone else to stay in,” he said.
One of Lyons’ first acts after becoming OEM coordinator was to create a Facebook page to increase the office’s online following. Residents who like the Shamong Township Office of Emergency Management Facebook page will receive updates on emergency planning, events, important weather updates and news about Shamong OEM.
The page has more than 400 followers, and during the recent winter storm, the posts about road conditions and safety alerts reached more than 1,000 people.
Lyons wife Kerri, also a CERT member, assists with posting updates and keeping fresh content for both the Shamong and Tabernacle OEM Facebook pages.
While he plans on continuing to develop the Facebook page, Lyons also wants to focus on more traditional methods of communication including township events, flyers and brochures that will be available at town hall.
One thing Lyons plans to push to residents through these vehicles of communication is the Swift 911 Alert System that went live in mid-January. The system replaced Code Red and is used by Burlington County and towns throughout the county to create voice calls, emails and text messages for emergency notifications.
All residents who haven’t already registered with Swift 911 are encouraged to follow the instructions listed on the township webpage regarding how to register for Shamong alerts. Those without Internet access will be able to sign up via telephone by calling the township office at (609) 268–2377.
New Jersey also offers a registration website for those with special access or functional needs who might need assistance or consideration during emergency situations. Folks can register for this by going to www.registerready.nj.gov.
Register Ready NJ is a secure, safe way to indicate you or your family member’s special needs in the event of an evacuation, extended power outages or other emergency response.
Of course, in any emergency situation, if you need assistance you should call 9–1–1, but these other tools will allow Shamong OEM to share important information before an emergency occurs and help resources respond afterward.
Lyons also plans to set up a series of meetings for the Local Emergency Planning Committee. The law requires all townships have a comprehensive and regularly reviewed emergency response plan, and the body that oversees the maintenance of this plan is the LEPC.
“The plan covers important areas such as available resources, emergency procedures, communication, sheltering and, when necessary, evacuation. All of these areas need to be reviewed and assessed to make sure they are current and accurate,” Lyons said.
The LEPC typically consists of OEM, township elected officials and administration, various departments including fire, EMS, State Forest Fire, the health department and community liaisons.
Lyons is in the process of identifying the 2016 representatives for each representative area, as their plan is due for formal review by the state this year. The LEPC will also discuss any upcoming events, general preparedness, readiness and public safety issues for Shamong. Contact [email protected] for any questions, interest in volunteering or for more information about emergency planning and response.
