emergency preparedness

Annual Earthquake Drill Shakes Things Up In Missouri, Illinois

Véronique LaCapra — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:51:25 +0000

This morning, residents of Missouri, Illinois, and seven other Central U.S. states participated in an earthquake preparedness drill.

The annual event is known as the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. This year, close to three million people registered to participate.

Not All St. Louis-Area EMTs Are Getting Vaccinated Against the Flu

Véronique LaCapra — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:40:52 +0000

As many as a quarter of EMTs and other emergency medical personnel in the St. Louis area may not be getting annual flu vaccinations, according to a new study out of Saint Louis University.

Saint Louis University nurse researcher and study lead Terri Rebmann says many study participants had misconceptions about the flu vaccine.

“Almost 40 percent of the EMTs indicated that they do not trust public health authorities when they say that the vaccine is safe,” Rebmann said.

New, ramped-up tornado warnings to start Monday

The Associated Press and Véronique LaCapra — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:20:46 +0000

As of Monday, the National Weather Service will be issuing a new kind of tornado warning in Missouri and Kansas.

The new, more forceful and explicit messages are designed to get attention and drive people to take shelter during dangerous storms.

Central U.S. marks 200th anniversary of New Madrid quakes with earthquake drill

Véronique LaCapra — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:51:30 +0000

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is an annual event intended to raise awareness about what to do in the event of a major earthquake.

Steve Besemer of the Missouri Emergency Management Agency says in Missouri and Illinois, more than 900,000 people, most of them students, participated in today's drill.

He says if an earthquake hits, there are three simple steps people should follow.

St. Louis Co. to retest some tornado sirens this week

Véronique LaCapra — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

St. Louis County will be re-testing some of its tornado sirens this week.

The county has already tested the new omni-directional, solar-powered warning system twice since Labor Day.

But a spokesman for the county’s Department of Highways and Traffic and Public Works, David Wrone, says residents living near 18 of the sirens haven’t been able to hear them.