Three years in the past, as ominous clouds loomed over the crowds at the Nation Stampede, lead act Jason Aldean’s present was canceled.
A storm was coming.
Shawnee County emergency administration director Dusty Nichols mentioned he remembered the night time vividly.
“All of us, the whole EM staff, was working with the media and Heartland Park,” he mentioned. “We knew the storms have been coming in. We tried to get the world cleared.”
Fortunately, they cleared the world earlier than a lightening bolt struck the rear of the stage.
Now a brand new emergency communication device, Everbridge Nixle Emergency Notification System, may also help pace up the method of evacuation, in addition to support in different methods throughout a disaster.
The nuts and bolts of the brand new alert system
On this occasion, the system would have suggested individuals to hunt shelter of their vehicles.
Nichols in contrast it to the Amber Alert System.
To subscribe, a live performance goer would textual content stampede22 to 888-777. Created by the regional Homeland Safety Council, the service is free.
“Emergency Administration is partnered with medical fireplace regulation enforcement, public works, even some navy items which might be within the space,” Nichols mentioned. “So if there’s something that goes mistaken, or we have to get info out, it’s extremely a lot as if we have been texting anybody to allow them to know what is going on on.
“So if regulation enforcement had an accident at College Boulevard and 70, and we’d must reroute visitors, we will really put that in a textual content.”
Nelson Casteel, ambulance compliance officer and operations chief for Shawnee County is in command of the emergency alert system.
“We actually encourage individuals to be part of Everbridge as a result of we will allow them to know there is a delay in visitors, change in route or a number of visitors,” mentioned Casteel.
Final 12 months, he mentioned, the situation of Rideshare, Uber and Lyft pickups needed to be modified, and the system would have helped unfold the phrase.
Another security ideas
• One other new expertise What 3 Phrases, is an app that may assist first-responders geolocate somebody in want. Nichols suggested downloading it to organize for the Stampede, which shall be Thursday to Saturday at Heartland Park in Topeka.
• Look on the map of the Stampede previous to the occasion, and pick spots to satisfy up at sure instances to maintain tabs on family and friends.
• Have backup plans if cellphones aren’t working.
• Pack for medical points, resembling medicine.
• Be sure that autos have a stage of safety to keep away from theft.
• Put together youngsters by speaking about strangers. Instruct them to go to regulation enforcement officers for help in the event that they change into separated.
Catheryn Hrenchir is a function author for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She will be reached at chrenchir.gannett.com or (785) 817-6383.
