Meet Andrew - Intern Insight

My name is Andrew Bower and I am a 21 year old student of Shippensburg University. My major at Shippensburg University is political science, and to answer the question that everyone always asks: no, I do not plan to run for office. I have no interest in making policy or nominating Supreme Court justices. Those are things that should be left for better men than me. I prefer to focus my time on the political side of government, working with campaigns and analyzing the actions, statements, and shoes of our elected officials. However, that is not to say that my interest lies entirely on the political side of government. I do have an interest in the finer points of government, for example, emergency management. When I was first given a tour of the Department of Public Safety I was fascinated. Just in the 2 hours that I was in the building for a presentation, my attention was captured. I wanted to know more about what happens when someone calls 911, or who takes care of the roads during a blizzard. These things may seem like the mundane workings of bureaucracy to most people, but to me they were a behind the scenes look at some of the most important functions of our local government. Up until then, I had thought that FEMA was the only emergency management agency. I thought if a disaster was bad that FEMA would come into the area of disaster and clean up. I also thought that each police station had its own 911 center, and calls were routed to it based on proximity. I was very wrong. To learn that there is one center for a whole county boggled my mind. I have learned a lot about the Department of Public Safety just in the past few months preparing for my internship here, and I am sure that I have a lot of learning left to do.

First Energy Offers Winter Storm Tips

FirstEnergy Offers Tips to Prepare for Severe Winter Storm

Snow and Winds Forecast Across Territory

Akron, Ohio – With severe winter weather predicted for states served by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utilities, customers are encouraged to prepare for power outages that could result from high winds and heavy snow.

Beginning Wednesday, the storm is expected to produce a wintry mix of snow and high winds in western Maryland, higher elevations of West Virginia, central and northern New Jersey and parts of northern and eastern Pennsylvania.

Customers can take these following steps to prepare for the possibility of outages caused by winter storms:

Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy. Use care when burning candles; open flames are a fire hazard.
Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person. Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters or other open-flame heat sources to prevent deadly carbon monoxide gas from building up in your home.
If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water. Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking. Keep a battery-powered radio with extra batteries on hand. Tune to a local station for current storm information. Have a hard-wired telephone or a charged cell phone handy in the event you need to report your electricity is out. Mobile phones can be charged in your vehicle using a car charger when the power is out. If you have a smart phone, this will ensure you have access to online information sources.

Downed Wires

Customers should immediately report downed wires to their local utility or local police or fire department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it's no longer carrying electricity. Don’t try to remove trees or tree limbs from power lines. Wait for utility crews to arrive.

Customer Generators

Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service. However, to ensure the safety of the home’s occupants as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.
Outages

FirstEnergy customer call centers will be fully staffed. Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link on www.firstenergycorp.com via smartphone.

FirstEnergy customers also can utilize a new free smartphone app to report outages and access important information and services related to their electric accounts. The app is available for Apple

® iPhone® and Android™ smartphones. Customers can use the keyword 3

"FirstEnergy" to locate the apps in the online store. A new mobile website is also available to customers who use a smartphone to visit www.firstenergycorp.com.

For updated information on the company’s storm preparation efforts, current outages, FirstEnergy’s storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages. The operating companies also will provide updates via Twitter:

Toledo Edison: @ToledoEdison
The Illuminating Company: @IlluminatingCo
Ohio Edison: @OhioEdison
Mon Power: @MonPowerWV
JCP&L: @JCP_L
Penn Power: @Penn_Power
Penelec: @Penelec
Met-ED: @Met_Ed
Potomac Edison: @PotomacEdison
West Penn Power: @W_Penn_Power

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

(030413)

Prepare for Outages With Winter Storm

March 5, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Megan Silverstrim, Cumberland County

                        717.729.7019

Cumberland County Officials Encourage Preparing for Outages as Severe Weather Approaches

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– It is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Cumberland County and Mother Nature seems to be playing along as a winter storm is quickly approaching the area.  As part of Severe Weather Awareness week the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be spending the day participating in a statewide severe weather exercise as well as preparing for the pending storm. 

                                                                                                         

With forecasters predicting up to six inches of snow, with the possibility of ten inches in some areas, DPS officials are encouraging residents to take general steps to prepare for the storm.  There is potential for utility outages with this storm, as high winds will be associated with this system.  Residents should have utility outage reporting numbers on hand, and supplies to help them through any long term outages (nonperishable food, extra blankets, flash lights, battery powered radio and charge cell phones).  Utility outages should not be reported to the 9-1-1 emergency number.  Residents are also urged to take extreme caution when traveling the snow covered roads and avoid traveling if possible. 

For more information on this severe weather event stay tuned to local news networks and visit www.ccpa.net.  For more information on preparing for this storm visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.

# # #

Severe Weather Awareness Week 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2013

CONTACT: Megan Silverstrim

Commissioners Issue Severe Weather Awareness Proclamation

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania- Cumberland County Board of Commissioners proclaimed March 4-8, 2013 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Cumberland County during today's regular Board of Commissioner's Meeting.  The program is a coordinated effort between the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. National Weather Service.

The purpose of Severe Weather Awareness Week is to remind citizens to prepare for the expected and unexpected severe weather that can occur in Cumberland County.  Much like 2011, 2012 proved to be a year full of severe weather, including a late season hurricane named Sandy.  Forecasters expect 2013 to be just as active with severe weather, which means no one can afford to let their guard down when it comes to preparing.  With this in mind, DPS will be spending the week promoting preparedness at home and in the workplace, as well as educating the public on the various types of common and uncommon severe weather that can impact our area.

There will be a statewide weather exercise to coincide with Severe Weather Awareness Week, which will occur on March5, 2013.  For more information on the exercise, visit www.pema.state.pa.us or tune into your NOAA weather radios on March 5th.

# # #

Dispatchers Issued Service Citation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2013

CONTACT:  Megan Silverstrim, Department of Public Safety

                        717.218.2913

 Three Cumberland County Dispatchers Recognized

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania- During today’s Cumberland County Board of Commissioners’ Meeting, three 9-1-1 dispatchers were recognized with a Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS) Service Citation.  The quick and efficient actions of Dispatchers Molly Baker, Ron Bouch and Benjamin Thumma assisted in the apprehension of a murder suspect in Lower Allen Township.

On January 5, 2013, Dispatcher Thumma answered a 9-1-1 phone call from an individual from out of the area who stated that he wanted to turn himself in for a murder he committed the previous day in Iva, South Carolina.  Thumma worked to determine the location of the caller, the location of the victim in South Carolina and ascertained that the suspect had a gun in his vehicle.  Thumma then began giving the caller instructions, so that a peaceful apprehension would take place upon the arrival of police.  While Thumma remained on the line with the caller, Dispatcher Baker alerted Lower Allen Police of the situation and relayed detailed information, including the fact that the suspect was armed to the officers.  Dispatcher Bouch worked to locate the Iva Police Department contact information and quickly called to alert authorities of the reported murder in their jurisdiction.  Bouch remained on the line until the Iva Police arrived to the home of the reported victim and confirmed a deceased individual was found at the house.  Bouch relayed Lower Allen Police’s contact information to the Iva authorities so that the two agencies could coordinate their initial investigation. 

DPS Service Citations are reserved for individuals who during an event that rises above the normal conduct of business, have contributed significantly to the outcome of an event through appropriate intervention, assistance or influence.  For more information on DPS and the citation program, visit www.ccpa.net/publicsafety.

# # #

20 Years of EMD POSTPONED

The EMD 20 year anniversary program that was scheduled for February 5th has been postponed.  A new date will be announced next week. 

Celebrating 20 Years of EMD

December 17, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:     Megan Silverstrim, Cumberland County

                        717.729.7019

Cumberland County 9-1-1 Celebrates 20 Years of

Life Saving Medical Protocol

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– In 2013 Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS) will celebrate 20 years of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD).  EMD is a nationally recognized program that relies on a series of standardized questions and instructions that provide dispatchers with a consistent approach to medical emergencies.  With EMD, dispatchers are able to determine caller location, nature of the emergency, triage the emergency and determine the seriousness of the incident.  With this information dispatchers can then determine the appropriate response, as well as offer pre-arrival medical instructions to the caller.

In 1993, Cumberland County Department of Public Safety played an integral part in introducing the life saving program to the 8 counties that comprise the Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF). The mission of EHSF is to develop, maintain and improve the EMS system within the 8 county region. Cumberland County was the first in EHSF to actually adopt the program.  At the time EMD was a contentious concept but 20 years later all 8 counties in the region utilize the life saving protocol. 

All Cumberland County 9-1-1 dispatchers are EMD certified through a 32 hour course when hired.  Dispatchers must obtain continuing education credits and retest for their certification every two years.  Since its inception, dispatchers have successfully navigated callers through the steps to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), child birth and a variety of other medical conditions.  On February 5th, DPS will officially mark this 20 year anniversary with an interactive program that will be open to the public.  For more information on Cumberland County 9-1-1, visit www.ccpa.net/publicsafety                                                                    

# # #