HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoutwells EOP Information Assistance Request POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
14168 OAK PARK BLVD. NORTH • P.O. BOX 2007 LINDY SWANSON
OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55082 CHIEF OF POLICE
® TELEPHONE: (651) 439 -4723
FAX: (651) 439 -3639
EMERGENCY: 911
January 18, 2002
Ms. Virginia Wilhelmson
Boutwell's Landing
Dear Ms. Wilhelmson;
It was a pleasure speaking with you via telephone earlier today and I look forward to
meeting with you and visiting your facility next Thursday, January 24, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.
I have checked my files and really can't find anything that would be of benefit to you in
establishing an Emergency Plan for your facility. Obviously, you can only do so much
with a facility such as yours. I would suggest you focus on a plan designating "safe
zones" or "safe areas" that your residents could report to in the event of a major storm or
disastor, that may be considered more safe than staying in their own living quarters. This
may include basement areas, hallways, bathrooms, etc ... areas with the least amount of
window glass or more centrally located. It may also be important to designate certain
responsibilities and/or duties for various staff so they will know in advance what they
should be doing or how they should be reacting.
A Municipal Emergency Operations Plan, such as the plan that I am currently trying to
update, would be of little use to you as it primarily deals with continuity of government
should a disastor strike and lists Mutual Aid Agreements with other communities, and
lists available resources that may be needed (so we aren't bogged down trying to locate
this type of information when we are in an emergency).
When trying to put together a response think of things that can be done that would be
more safe for your residents. This could be as minimal as going into their unit bathroom
and closing the door. You may also develope a method where off -duty personnel could
be called in to respond. Last, but not least, during warmer climate months, usually
April - November, our city participates in monthly testing of our Emergency Warning
Siren System. You may want to organize a "drill" on one of the test dates and either
have your tenants actually respond as though it were a true emergency, or at least
consider what they would do if it was. We test our system the first Wednesday of every
warm weather month at 1:00 p.m. All too often the sirens go off and people don't bother
to give a thought as to what they would do if it were for real.
Anyway, I'll see you next week and hopefully answer questions that you may have and
also try to get the police emergency building entry situation resolved.
Sincerely,
Lindy Sw son
Chief of Police