City emergency operations plan goes high-tech

Local News

Discussion

March 3, 2013

City emergency operations plan goes high-tech

Dave Sutor dsutor@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Sun Mar 03, 2013, 11:49 PM EST

JOHNSTOWN — Johnstown Fire Department Chief Anthony Kovacic showed city council members both a small stack of CDs and a fat three-ring binder filled with hundreds of pages on Wednesday.

The demonstration was meant to visually explain how the department has modernized its emergency operations plan.

In the past, Kovacic would give each individual a copy of the in-depth plan on printed pages. “We were just killing trees, left and right,” said the chief with a smile.

This year, he burned the report onto CDs, which will provide council members the ability to easily search through the voluminous amount of information on their home computers. “We invested a good bit of time going through the document, making sure that we modernized it,” Kovacic said.

Kovacic revamps the plan every two years to make sure information is up-to-date and accurate.

“We’re very fortunate to have such a highly professional and educated chief,” said City Councilman Pete Vizza. “Tony has done a great job for the city. He’s looking out not only for just the citizens of the city, but the whole area.”

The main 26-page plan outlines basic safety procedures.

More than a dozen annexes provide details about how to handle winter storms, flooding, mass evacuations and numerous other emergency situations.

There are separate sections for all events that attract large crowds, including Thunder in the Valley, PolkaFest and Showcase for Commerce.

“It’s an opportunity for us to put in print – long before there’s an issue – how we’re going to manage a problem, and it’s all-inclusive,” Kovacic said.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Study: Hospitals’ finances are healthy
Hospitals across the region maintained financial health last year, a new state report shows.
But leaders say the continued strength required constant scrutiny and creative programming to identify new opportunities in a dynamic industry.

May 20, 2013
Local politicians will feel impact of redistricting
This time next year, as primary election day draws near, two close friends and colleagues likely will find themselves in a face-off, each in the hopes of holding his job in the state House.

May 20, 2013
Mayor’s race pits friends
A two-way race for the borough mayor seat will likely be settled Tuesday.
That’s because two Democrats – incumbent Simon “Red” Ohler and Councilwoman Sonya Pekala – are the only candidates on the spring ballot, with no Republican opposition.

May 20, 2013
Windber men vying for post
Two Windber men want to fill the seat being vacated in December by a longtime local district judge.
With now-Senior District Judge Joseph Cannoni’s term expiring at year’s end, attorney William E. Seger, 52, and William Telek, 56, a senior construction inspector for the turnpike, will face off in a May primary race that could repeat itself again this fall.

May 20, 2013
Observances slated for Memorial Day
The men and women who have kept this nation free will be honored during Memorial Day ceremonies in the area.
Inside are Memorial Day observances are scheduled for May 27.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
Vet’s war story is put into words
“A Scout for E Company 1944: The Story of PFC Gene Wentz,” by Daniel Felix of Mechanicsburg, has been released in time for Memorial Day.
Felix, who is a semiretired educator, wrote his first book about his father-in-law, who lives in Martinsburg.
He wanted to tell Wentz’s story because he has realized that so many World War II veterans are dying without sharing their memories.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
Person of the Week | A stand-up guy: Hoops star defends friend against classmates’ bullying
When Greater Johnstown High School basketball star Phillip Madison saw some bullies teasing his autistic friend, he stopped them by defending his classmate.
That noble action influenced other students to join Phillip’s quest to see fairness prevail by casting aside the actions of the bullies.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
15-year-old killed during race at Bedford Co. track
A 15-year-old boy was killed Saturday after crashing his four-wheeler at a Bedford County bike track.

May 19, 2013
Texas Tenors returning to Arcadia
Contrary to popular western lore, the good guys, or at least the good singers, wear black hats.
The Texas Tenors will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Arcadia Theater, 1418 Graham Ave., Windber.

May 19, 2013
JIM SIEHL | Sad notes accompany friends’ move
People touch our lives all the time.
They do so in many ways. Making extraordinary decisions is among them.
Schellsburg’s Elissa Henderson and her husband, Wayne, a retired superintendent of schools, made such a decision that has a lot of their friends crying. Emotional me is among them.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

City emergency operations plan goes high-tech

Do we have too many economic development agencies in our area?

Contact Us