Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association

Lakewood Heights Disaster Plan

LHNA Disaster Plan

Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association Disaster Plan

Emergency Telephone Numbers:
Police, Fire, Ambulance - 911
Poison Center – 1-800-764-7661
American Red Cross – 214-678-4800
TXU - Report a Gas Leak – 1-800-817-8090
TXU – Report a Power Outage – 1-800-233-2133
Social Services Referral Helpline - 214-379-4357 (Community Council of Dallas)
Dallas Office of Emergency Preparedness - 214-670-4375

Background: This plan provides general information about disaster preparation for the Lakewood Heights neighborhood, in Dallas, Texas. The neighborhood is bounded by: Richmond Ave. (south), Monticello Ave. (north), Abrams Rd. (east), and Skillman Ave. (west). Beginning in 2001, the Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association (LHNA), working with the American Red Cross, Dallas Chapter, evaluated hazards, and took actions to become “disaster-resistant”. This plan is one result of that effort.

Hazard Analysis: LHNA and the Red Cross reviewed potential neighborhood disasters in 2002. Due to our regional weather patterns, and a large number of old trees, the highest risk event, for the neighborhood, was found to be a major storm, potentially with high winds or a tornado, and with downing of electric lines. A serious ice storm in the 1970s isolated the neighborhood for several days, and some residents were without electricity for a week. A second, less likely, risk is the possibility of terrorist attacks. In either of these scenarios, or other large disaster events, the LHNA was advised that government responders may be overwhelmed. Also, communication systems, including cellular telephones, could be disrupted. In this event, neighbors could be fending for themselves for some period of time.

Family Disaster Planning: Each neighbor is encouraged to: develop a family disaster plan, prepare a disaster kit, obtain safety training, volunteer to assist others, and participate in blood drives and emergency services fundraising. Disaster kits should contain supplies for each family member for three days.

An important part of a family disaster plan is choosing a family contact, and a meeting place outside the immediate area. Also, consider picking an out-of-state friend, or relative, to be another contact person - in a disaster, it may be easier to call long-distance than locally. If possible, everyone in the family should know the contact information, in case anyone gets separated. Plans for pet care may also be important, since many shelters don’t allow animals, and local boarding services may not be available during emergencies.

The most frequent household disaster is a fire. Family plans should include fire safety considerations, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and escape plans.

The Red Cross responds to any disaster, including residential fires, and it doesn’t need to be up to the victims to remember to call them. The sooner the Red Cross is called, the sooner they can help people to meet their emergency needs.

Resources: In May, 2002, LHNA distributed, with its newsletter, Red Cross brochures on disaster planning, tornados, and terrorism, to each neighborhood household (roughly 1200). That information, and more, is still available from the Red Cross, and is posted on their Dallas internet website at [www.redcrossdallas.org]. Additional information is available from the LHNA, and from other organizations, such as the Dallas Office of Emergency Preparedness [www.dallasfirerescue.com/oep.htm]), and the federal Office of Homeland Security at [www.ready.gov]. (Note: See internet link list at the bottom of this page)

Organization: Beginning in 2002, LHNA began identifying volunteer “Block Captains”, for each of the 33 blocks in the neighborhood. Block Captains help locate neighbors on their block, especially those who have special skills, or special needs (e.g. elderly or disabled), in emergency situations. Block Captain names are periodically published in the neighborhood newsletter, and on the neighborhood’s website. Residents are encouraged to provide emergency contact information to their neighbors, and to consider also providing it to their Block Captains.

Training: American Red Cross “Community First Aid and Adult, Infant and Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)” training was provided to Block Captains in 2002, and most are certified to respond to medical emergencies. CPR/First Aid training will be available, in the neighborhood, to all Lakewood Heights residents in 2003. LHNA will continue to try to bring emergency training to the neighborhood, and other types of training may be held in the future. Training courses are also provided regularly by the American Red Cross, at their facility in Dallas.

Emergency Notifications: An Emergency Warning Siren, operated by the City of Dallas, is located at Tietze Park on the west side of the neighborhood. If the warning siren sounds, neighbors should check their radio or television for further information. Two local radio stations that provide frequent weather updates are 820-AM (WBAP) and 1080-AM (KRLD). Neighborhood residents should also consider purchasing “Weather Radios” that automatically activate when the National Weather Service issues warning bulletins.

For neighborhood communication, LHNA also keeps a “telephone tree” list, which allows information to be passed quickly from Board Officers to Street Representatives and Block Captains, if necessary.

Neighborhood Rally Point: In the event of a large disaster, immediate access to portions of the neighborhood may not be available. The neighborhood association has designated the parking lot at the north end of Tietze Park as the neighborhood rally point, if needed.

Additional Information and Future Activities: Contact the neighborhood association if additional information is needed. Experts are available to discuss topics of interest, or provide additional training, at neighborhood meetings. Speakers in 2001-2002 covered crime prevention, county emergency preparedness, family disaster planning, fire safety, and tree maintenance. Check the neighborhood newsletter, or the neighborhood association website, at [www.neighborhoodlink.com/dallas/lhna], for updates.

In June, 2002, Lakewood Heights became the first neighborhood in Dallas to be designated “Disaster Resistant” by the American Red Cross. Maintaining a “prepared” level of organization and training will be a challenge. The LHNA Board of Directors recommends review and updating of this plan by future boards, on an annual, or more frequent, basis.

Adopted by the Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association Board, 2/20/03

Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 141051, Dallas, TX 75214

(For further information, contact Kelly Nash 214-827-3257, kelnash@aol.com)
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Neighborhood Block Captains (2/03):
6100 BC - Shawn Kline*, 6139
6200 BC - Craig Wilson, 6203
6300 BC - Vacant
Belmont
6100 BC - Rob Gilbreath*, 6237
6200 BC - Vacant
6300 BC - Kent Byers, 6320
Goliad
6100 BC - Vacant
6200 BC - Kristin Kaufman* 6260
6300 BC - Paul and Meredith Manak, 6341
Lakeshore
6100 BC - Mark Ridler, 6146
6200 BC - Liz Baldwin, 6256
6300 BC - Barbara Koegl*, 6311
Palo Pinto
6100 BC - Greg Yates*, 6164
6200 BC - Vacant
6300 BC - Chuck Kobdish, 6339
Velasco
Street Representative – Terry Vandygriff*, 6254
6100 BC - Peter & Kitty Smith, 6142,
6200 BC - Sandy & David Poynor, 6250
6300 BC - Connie & Royd Riddell, 6302
Llano
6100 BC - Vacant
6200 BC - Mark Dressendorfer*, 6226
6300 BC - Allan Giles, 6326
Vickery
6100 BC - Jane Dynis, 6135
6200 BC - Pat Galvin*, 6223
6300 BC - Kelly Nash, 6327
Vanderbilt
6100 BC - Brina Tignor*, 6155
6200 BC - Vacant
6300 BC - Vacant
Marquita
6100 BC - Marvin Stelzer, 6134
6200 BC - Joanne & Robert Hopkins, 6240
6300 BC - Ed Westmeyer*, 6341
Monticello
6100 BC - Mrs. John Primm, 6134
6200 BC - Joe Revesz, 6222
6300 BC - David & Olivia Forgey*, 6355

* = Street Representatives

Links

The Dallas Chapter of The Red Cross Homepage
Red Cross Disaster Services
Red Cross Nursing & Health Services
Red Cross Training Courses
Volunteer for The Red Cross
Red Cross Disaster Resistant Neighborhood Program
Red Cross Disaster Mitigation Library
Dept. of Homeland Security-
Dallas Office of Emergency Preparedness