{"id":285,"date":"2012-01-13T12:13:55","date_gmt":"2012-01-13T12:13:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mema\/?p=285"},"modified":"2012-01-13T12:13:55","modified_gmt":"2012-01-13T12:13:55","slug":"national-capital-region-unveils-new-web-portal-and-winter-preparedness-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/2012\/01\/13\/national-capital-region-unveils-new-web-portal-and-winter-preparedness-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"National Capital Region Unveils New Web Portal and Winter Preparedness Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"
New Web Portal<\/strong><\/div>\n
The jurisdictions of the National Capital Region have a new communications tool to communicate emergency information to residents of the NCR \u2013 it\u2019s a Web portal,\u00a0http:\/\/www.capitalregionupdates.gov\/<\/a>. The site was unveiled today at a meeting of regional communicators, public safety officials and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. Through this online resource, residents can stay connected to local jurisdictional news (through a combined RSS feed of local news releases), localized weather from the National Weather Service, traffic and transit alerts, tips on how to prepare for emergencies and much more.<\/div>\n
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Capital Region Updates features day-to-day news from the jurisdictions of the National Capital Region.\u3000 During a regional emergency or major weather event across the NCR, the site will feature incident updates and life-safety news and instructions.\u3000It will serve as an online “one stop shop” for information and guidance during major emergencies.<\/div>\n
Residents that live or work in the National Capital Region are encouraged to bookmark\u00a0http:\/\/www.capitalregionupdates.gov\/<\/a>\u00a0for news and information updates.<\/div>\n
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Winter Preparedness<\/strong><\/p>\n
“Get Where You Need to be Before the Weather Gets Bad”<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The National Capital Region has a common message this winter \u2013 stay off the roads when it snows!<\/div>\n
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Overall, most winter storm deaths result from vehicle or other transportation accidents caused by ice and snow. People should avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow, or dense fog. These are serious conditions that are often underestimated, and they make driving \u2013 and even walking outside \u2013 very hazardous.<\/div>\n
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“We are coordinating public messaging this year with Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the federal government,” said Merni Fitzgerald, director of the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs and chair of the region\u2019s communicators. “Some already have logos\/slogans \u2013 such as Maryland\u2019s \u2018Ice and Snow: Take it Slow,\u2019 DC\u2019s \u2018Plan Today, Plow Tomorrow\u2019 and the federal government\u2019s Office of Personnel Management\u2019s new option of \u2018Staggered Early Departure\/with Final Departure Time.\u2019 Current campaigns and messages will be continued; this regional campaign is an effort to extend those messages and remind NCR residents and visitors of the dangers and consequences of being on area roads during winter weather,” Fitzgerald added.<\/div>\n
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The primary message for residents to remember in the “SNOW \u2013 Stay off the roads, Not Out in the Weather,” campaign during the upcoming winter weather is:<\/div>\n
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Get Where You Need to Be Before the Weather Gets Bad!<\/strong><\/div>\n
Winter storms are deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm:<\/div>\n