Thunderstorms, lightning and tornadoes, snowstorms, flashfloods,
earthquakes, bomb scares, chemical spills and transportation accidents.
These are just a few of the potential hazards we face here in Lexington-Fayette County.
When severe weather or other emergencies strike, our emergency management program helps coordinate community
response and assists in getting everyone back on their feet, safe and sound. We want to make sure that
Lexington is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact.
Remember one thing during an emergency: Don't Panic! You need to think clearly,
act quickly, and know what's going on. Listen for emergency watches, warnings, and
instructions on what to do to stay safe. In Fayette County, get information from
these sources:
- NOAA Weather Radio: Get information directly from the National Weather Service with
these radios. They are very affordable and can be tuned to only receive information
relevant to Fayette County. Visit www.weatherradios.com to learn more.
Click here for County Codes.
- Emergency Alert System: The EAS is a network of radio and television stations and
cable companies that automatically transmit information in an emergency. The designated
EAS station in Fayette County is WVLK-AM 590, but other stations also re-broadcast
announcements. Click here to learn more.
- Cable Interrupt System: When an emergency occurs, our local cable company can break
into any station in order to broadcast emergency alerts.
- Outdoor Sirens: There are 25 sirens located in parks throughout Fayette County. When a
tornado warning or chemical emergency occurs, a loud siren sound will be played. In the
event of other severe emergencies, the sirens can play voice messages and instructions.
Find a siren in your area.
- Local Television: For up-to-date weather information, watch local television in our viewing
area. Their radars provide accurate information and they will transmit instructions from local
officials.
You should know the difference between a "watch" and a "warning" for severe weather (for example, a
tornado watch versus a tornado warning):
- Watch: This means that severe weather of some kind may be on the way, so be prepared
and take steps to get to safety if conditions become worse.
- Warning: This means that severe weather is occurring right now. You should get to safety
immediately.
NOAA Weather Radio and other Severe Weather Preparation Resources:
NOAA Weather Radio and other Severe Weather Preparation Resources
Did you know there is a nationwide network of radio stations providing
severe weather watches and warnings, as well as continuous weather
information directly from the National Weather Service 24 hours a day? This
network is called NOAA Weather Radio. To obtain this potentially life-saving
information, you need a special radio receiver available at most electronic
stores . Having a battery operated, tone-alert NOAA Weather Radio in your
home is like having your own personal tornado siren. If you purchase a NOAA
Weather Radio with the SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding), you can
program your radio to alert for specific counties. A NOAA Weather Radio
should be as common as a smoke detector.
We provide for the voluntary registration of Lexington residents who have special needs during an evacuation and/or at a shelter.
To register, please complete our online special needs form.
How to Volunteer
Lexington depends on many different organizations and people to deal with emergencies both big and small.
That’s why we’re always looking for volunteers interested in donating their time and expertise. If you
care about the health and safety of our community, consider becoming a DEEM volunteer! Complete an
online form and a DEEM representative will contact you to discuss your new role as a volunteer.
Online Volunteer Form
Consider applying to be an EOC coordinator during serious emergencies. The EOC helps coordinate Lexington’s overall response and recovery during major storms and other disasters.
Neighborhood Emergency Network is based on a common sense notion: Neighbor
Helping Neighbor. It is a new public safety program that seeks to involve neighborhood
associations in helping to prepare their neighbors for disasters.
Need a form mailed to you? Call us at (859) 258-3784 or
EMAIL US
The Division of Environmental and Emergency Management, along with the Division of Fire and
Emergency Services, offers CERT as a new training program.
Training includes sessions on disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, terrorism,
disaster fire suppression, disaster psychology, and team organization. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give
critical support to first responders and provide immediate assistance to victims.
LEARN MORE
Participate as a victim in large-scale training exercises held each year to better prepare first responders and the community for disasters. Having live victims makes the exercise as realistic as possible and tests the ability of facilities to respond effectively when faced with large numbers of injured, scared, or panicked patients.
Help us with our various education initiatives, including workshops, seminars, public booths, demonstration projects, etc.
Local volunteer medical and health professionals can contribute their skills and expertise to address their community’s ongoing public health needs and to help the community during large-scale emergency situations.
If you are a practicing or retired physician, nurse, or other health professional (as well as citizens interested in health issues), please contact your local health department at 252-2371.
