Fire Hydrants

These devices save lives and livelihoods - here's how!

VR Training

MUPD equips with new virtual reality training simulations

Fireworks Safety

Stay safe this holiday season and enjoy Independence Day!

Hurricane Season

Be informed. Have a plan. Prepare a kit.

Spring Exercise

How disaster response agencies prepare for disasters

Flash Flooding

When in doubt - turn around, don't drown

Tractor Tipping

Tractors can roll easily - practice safe handling!

When The Lights Go

Stay safe - tips for preparing for utility outages!

Fire Hydrants

Structure fires require A LOT of water in order to extinguish. The larger the building, the more water is needed to put the fire out. Starting in 1801, fire departments began accessing the community drinking water systems using fire hydrants. We see fire hydrants quite frequently on the side of the road but how do they work and how are they used? That’s what we’d like to talk about today.

VR Training

Exciting new opportunities are opening up at Mansfield University in the Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) program, in addition to the Police Academy. According to Mansfield University Police Department Chief, Scott Henry, the Institute was created in May of 2018. Together, they have been working with a number of different agencies, individuals and groups to become the training facility it is today.

Fireworks Safety

Believed to have been accidentally discovered around 2,000 years ago in China, fireworks have now become a regular past time for patriotic Americans enjoying their summers. With famous local displays like those in Galeton, Pennsylvania and at the Ives Run State Park in Tioga, Pennsylvanians are no strangers to fireworks.

Hurricane Season

We’re all familiar with the devastation that can be caused by bad weather. Videos and images across television, the internet, and social media show us the aftermath of major storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Collectively, these storms cost the United States hundreds of Billions of dollars, and thousands of human lives.

Spring Exercise

Today Benton Best of Emergency 101 poses the question: how do disaster response agencies prepare for disasters? We’re all familiar with taking courses in a classroom, but is that enough to prepare emergency services organizations for the “big one”? In fact, most Emergency Management agencies regularly perform functional or full-scale exercises to test their capabilities in enacting emergency plans.

Flash Flooding

One of the most common natural hazards facing Pennsylvania each year is flooding. In fact, 2018 was the wettest year on record for the Commonwealth which resulted in dozens of floods and even a federal disaster declaration for flooding.

Tractor Tipping

Virtually every farm uses a tractor to perform at least some critical functions on a daily basis, but many lives have been lost due to simple miscalculations in judgement when operating this type of equipment. We’re here today to shed some light on those points.

When The Lights Go

The most frequent hazard which impacts the most amount of people on a regular basis in Tioga County is a utility outage. While a utility outage may seem unavoidable or out of our control, there are things we can do now to prepare for power outages that may occur in the future.

Cybersecurity

In 2015, the Pew Research Center reported that 84% of American Adults use the internet, including 58% of senior citizens. As connectivity to the Internet of Things continues to build out, we rely more and more on technology we can’t physically see or touch. So what does this mean for our financial safety and security? It means we need to protect ourselves from cybercrime and cyberattacks.

Who’s Responding – Part 2

In Part I of this series called “Who’s Responding?” we discussed the problems being faced in Tioga County and throughout Pennsylvania with the decreasing number of volunteer EMS and Fire/Rescue providers. We learned that a lot of efforts are already under way to make recruitment of new volunteers easier and how some municipalities are even providing financial incentives for volunteers to complete basic training to become an emergency responder.

Who’s Responding – Part 1

We all know the importance of the 911 system and the ability for people to call for help when something goes wrong. Because of that the 911 system has been carefully regulated and monitored for many years to ensure that callers get the best quality service they can.

Illegal Dumping

Today we get to take a different look at disaster preparedness by discussing efforts that are underway in Tioga County to better protect the environment, and prevent the dumping of illegal garbage and waste. What does illegal dumping have to do with preventing disasters?

Responder AED’s

Research has shown that, during a sudden cardiac arrest, seconds count. Having early access to CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) can increase chances of survival by as much as 7%-10% every minute.

Forming an Emergency Plan

As we all know, large scale emergency incidents and disasters can have a profound impact on even the strongest and most resilient communities. Because of the size and severity of some disasters, it is often difficult for federal relief to arrive on site within the first 72 hours.

School Bus Accident Drill

On Monday, June 5th, 2017, the Tioga County Emergency Management Agency facilitated a School Bus Collision Simulation Drill in Farmington Township followed by a mass casualty simulation at the UPMC Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Wellsboro. With participants from the Northern Tioga School District, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, the District Attorney’s Office, Tioga County Fire Police, and various local EMS, Fire, and Law Enforcement agencies, the drill was largely viewed as a successful opportunity for training in Tioga County.

Grill Fire Dangers & Safety

We all love a good cookout! Events like these bring families and communities together in nice weather to enjoy fun, laughter, and food. But sometimes these events can take a tragic turn.

Detect and Protect!

In other episodes of Emergency 101 we’ve talked about basic fire safety and creating a plan for what to do if there was a fire at your house. But fires aren’t usually noisy and often occur at night time while people are sleeping. In those cases, how would you know if your house is on fire? Do you have the proper tools in place to be alerted if there was a fire in your household?

The Swift911 App

When a disaster strikes, every second counts. Sudden emergencies such as tornadoes, flash floods, and intense wildfires can unfold so quickly that some people may not even be aware of the danger until it is too late. That is why in Pennsylvania, the Tioga County Commissioners have purchased a new mass notification software program known as Swift911.

What Happens During Disaster?

We know from watching the news that disasters come in many forms and can strike unexpectedly. Have you ever wondered if Tioga County is prepared to respond effectively if disaster strikes our region? Tioga County Department of Emergency Services coordinator Benton Best and his staff recently participated in an exercise to prove their readiness. On Tuesday, July 19th, multiple agencies from several surrounding counties, conducted a training exercise in the county’s emergency operations center.

Fireworks Safety Tips

The fourth of July is both a celebration of American history as well as an opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and fellow community members. But being proud to be an American doesn’t mean that we should put those loved ones at risk. It’s important to think of safety FIRST this summer during our celebrations rather than put ourselves in harms way.

Fire Safety Tips

Today on WHP, our host and Emergency Management Coordinator of Tioga County Emergency Services, Benton Best shares with viewers tips on safely escaping a house fire on Emergency 101.