Team wants residents ready for emergencies

JACKSON — Members of the Community Evacuation Planning Team (CEPT) met recently to examine what may be needed in the event there is ever an emergency that requires evacuation.

CEPT, which is comprised of residents of the Four Seasons Metedeconk Lakes adult community, met on June 18 at the Four Seasons clubhouse to focus on an emergency evacuation plan for their community.

There are about 600 homes in the Four Seasons, which is one of several adult communities in Jackson.

CEPT Chairman Jay Weiss said, "Right now we are focusing on the evacuation plan. This will directly involve interaction with the Jackson Office of Emergency Management, the Red Cross, the police and the fire department."

Many of the Four Seasons residents who attended the CEPT meeting have already been certified as members of Jackson's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), while others have plans to become certified.

Areas of concern which were discussed during the CEPT meeting included communication in an emergency, egress and zone identification, and the special needs of certain individuals

"What happens if we lose electricity?" Weiss said. "Realize that you may lose cable television, and wireless home phones may go also. Even cell phones may go down. You may have a panic situation when people can't get the news."

He suggested that a backup power system may be needed within the adult community.

Weiss said in some cases people may have to go door to door to inform residents of an emergency situation.

Four Seasons residents will have to know how to direct traffic out of the community, he said, and once people leave the development they will be directed by police, fire personnel or members of CERT.

Pamphlets provided by the Red Cross describe disaster preparedness for senior citizens. This includes what everyone should have in a "go bag," which is a three-day evacuation supply kit that everyone should have prepared prior to any emergency.

The emergency "go bag" should contain a first aid kit, medications, a flashlight, a radio, tools, a change of clothing, personal items, some cash, contact information, pet supplies, a local and state map, water for three days, non-perishable food in cans and a manual can opener.

Additionally, important papers, or copies of those papers, should be taken, including driver's licenses, passports, health insurance cards, bank books and any other important documents.

And, if a home is not safe for a person, then it is not safe for a pet, and pets should be taken during the evacuation.

People evacuating the community should have the telephone number of a relative outside of New Jersey to call so that family members can know they are safe.

CEPT will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Four Seasons clubhouse conference room on the second floor.

It was noted that the emergency plans that are being made by the Four Seasons CEPT team should also be considered by residents of other adult communities. For additional information contact Jay Weiss at 732-928-2296.