The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive emergency program for the Borough of Bellmawr. This plan addresses disaster mitigation, planning and preparedness, response to, and recovery from large scale emergencies and disasters that may affect our local area. The intent of this program is to minimize the impact of disasters, provide necessary disaster operations, and to enable effective disaster recovery.
Emergency Management
The mission of this office to provide an organized and well-trained response to any disaster that may affect our community.
Since the terrorist attack on 9/11, the emphasis in Emergency Management has shifted to training and preparing our first responders to recognize and respond to future incidents. The main focus is to provide for an integrated response by all responders with a unified command structure. These are requirements established by the government through the National Incident Management System and the National Response Plan. Our first responders, which include Township employees and managers, have trained extensively in the NIMS system and have adopted the system as their standard operating procedure.
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, drinking and sanitation.
- Food, at least a three day supply of nonperishable food.
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. - Flashlight and extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Whistle to signal for help.
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air, plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps.
In case you have to Shelter-In-Place, Evacuate or take Health-related actions.
We are in the middle of an emergency. What do I do?
Related Info / Links
Protective Actions
Sheltering-In-Place
– At Home
– At Work
– At School
Evacuation
– What to Take With You
– Your Evacuation Plan
Health-Related Actions
Basic Preparedness – Your Kit / Your Plan
Types of Emergencies
A tropical storm is approaching New Jersey. An industrial accident has released a potentially hazardous chemical into the environment. A suspected terrorist act has interrupted traffic in part of your community.
When these or other emergencies take place, the average citizen’s first thought will be, “What should I do?”
Your local, county or state emergency management officials will provide that answer by advising you to take “Protective Actions.”
Sheltering-In-Place, remaining in your home or workplace and protecting yourself there.
Evacuation, leaving the area of danger and following an Evacuation Route to a safe shelter.
Health-Related Actions, such as reporting to a specific location to receive medicine, or taking other actions.
How will I know which Protective Actions to Take?
Stay tuned to your local radio or television stations. Remember: A battery-powered radio and extra batteries are a key component of your Emergency Supply Kit.
During an emergency, your local, county or state emergency management officials will notify you via Emergency Alert System broadcasts on the radio, by special statements on radio or television, or even by traveling with bullhorns in certain areas. They may also use community notification systems such as “Reverse 911,” which sends messages to home telephones.
With these messages, your emergency management officials will tell you which Public Actions to take. They may advise you to close the windows and Shelter-in-Place until further notice. Or they may advise people in parts of your community to evacuate.
When you receive these messages you should take them seriously and act immediately.
You can act now to learn about types of emergency messaging that will be used in your area, and the local radio stations you should listen to during an emergency. For details, call your local Police Department or County Office of Emergency Management.