Emergencies can happen at any time. They can affect one home, a few streets, or the entire City. Whether it is a flood or tornado, the City of Hudson is prepared for an active response. Because it is impossible to know when disaster will strike or what type of emergency will occur, Hudson takes an "all hazards" approach to emergency preparedness.
Hudson City staff prepares and practices for the worst disaster incidents, while hoping there will not be a need to use these skills. Some emergencies are more likely to occur in our City than others, and training emphasis is placed on those situations.
Hudson has an Emergency Operations Plan in place to handle any emergency. Whether it is a flood, pandemic, tornado, fire, explosion, hazardous materials, or mass shooting incident, the City works with regional, state, and federal agencies to coordinate an emergency management response. Each incident is different, and the City’s Emergency Operations Plan is adaptable to meet any situation.
Emergency response involves immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. First, we focus on short-term recovery involving temporary measures to restore essential services and get the community going again. Long-term recovery involves permanent restoration, including steps to provide greater safety for the future.
Emergency Management Training
City of Hudson staff is continuously trained in incident management and regularly attend outside training as well as internal tabletop exercises to prepare for various crisis situations. The City also works closely with Summit County, the State of Ohio, and the federal government during emergency incidents, calling in additional resources as necessary. Hudson follows the National Incident Management System (NIMS) established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). NIMS guides all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents.
The five key components of the NIMS emergency preparedness involve: Preparedness, Communications and Information Management, Resource Management, Command and Management, and Ongoing Management and Maintenance.
Emergency Operations Center
When an emergency incident occurs, the City activates its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate an interagency response to and recovery from major incidents. The EOC is managed by the Operations Commander, selected based on the type of emergency, and is staffed by various City departments and services. The EOC gathers, consolidates, and manages the large amount of information during a major incident. In the EOC, members develop strategies and work with the Hudson Joint Information Center (HJIC) to get information out to the public.
How are Residents Notified in an Emergency?
The Hudson Joint Information Center uses many platforms to contact citizens and distribute critical information and instructions. Citizens are encouraged to sign up for notifications and check the City's social media feeds for real-time updates. Twitter is the main source of real-time information from the City during a crisis communications situation, although announcements will be placed on all City social media sites. Places to sign up for and seek information during a crisis:
- Code Red. The Code Red system automatically calls and/or texts emergency messages to residents. All landline phones in the 911 system are automatically in the system, but it is important to register a cell phone numbers to receive real-time emergency communications, particularly if you have no landline. Register at www.hudson.oh.us/CodeRed.
- Social Media. Twitter, Facebook, and NextDoor are the primary social media sources for the City’s emergency information. Follow the City’s pages for information.
- Notify Me Alert System. Sign up on the City’s website (www.hudson.oh.us/EmergencyAlerts) for alerts sent from the website. Emergency alerts also will appear as a banner on every page of the City’s website.
- FEMA App. To receive alerts about national and local incidents, download the FEMA App. Find the FEMA App on the City’s website at www.hudson.oh.us/EmergencyAlerts.
How Can Citizens Prepare for a Disaster?
Knowing what to do before, during, and after an emergency can make all the difference when seconds count. We encourage Hudson citizens and businesses to "prepare, plan, and stay informed."
FEMA’s “Ready Campaign” asks individuals to do three key things: (1) build an emergency supply kit, (2) make a family emergency plan and (3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
For more information, visit Hudson’s website at www.hudson.oh.us/EmergencyPreparedness or FEMA Ready at www.ready.gov or www.ready.ohio.gov.