“Being prepared is not just for wildfire emergencies,” said Navajo County Emergency Management (NCEM) Interim Director Catrina Jenkins. “It is being prepared for any and all emergency events that can happen from a hazardous spill on the railroad or the interstate, to floods and wild fires, which can include forest and grass fires.” This is the premise behind the statewide promotion: READY, prepare now. SET, be alert. GO, evacuate!
Beyond assembling an emergency kit, which should include important papers, prescriptions and supplies for both humans and pets, Jenkins encourages county residents to register with the Ready Navajo County Notification System (RNCN) on the www.navajocountyaz.gov website. The link is located under the Emergency Management and Preparedness Department.
In the event of an emergency, including weather-related events, the RNCN will attempt to contact local residents and businesses via email, text and voice recordings.
Navajo County Communications Manager and Public Information Officer, Adam Wolfe, is primarily responsible for informing the public of the current situation through press releases and social media, and works with Jenkins on keeping the emergency information up-to-date on the Navajo County Facebook and Emergency Management Facebook page and on Twitter @NavajoCountyAZ.
When an emergency requires evacuation of a specified area, Jenkins said that the county encourages residents to evacuate. “If you choose to stay, you are required to stay on your property and not leave until after the evacuation order is lifted,” noted Jenkins.
Jenkins said that the county is very aware of the number of residents who have livestock that can include cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, etc., and wants those residents to know that if they are in an evacuation zone, the county is able to help them evacuate not only the humans but the animals as well.
Much of the livestock is generally directed to the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook and the Rodeo Grounds in Taylor. “The small domestic animals are sheltered as close as we can arrange to the human shelters. This allows owners to visit them and ease anxieties of both owners and pets alike,” shared Jenkins.
In the event of an emergency, one should always call 9-1-1. But for information on current emergencies and events in Navajo County, the 311 call system can be accessed by dialing 3-1-1 or online at 311info.net.
As Jenkins said, “We are here to help the citizens of Navajo County during a disaster and the more prepared everyone is, the more success we will have in saving lives and property.”
