Preparedness is everyone's responsibility. Austinites have to work together, as a team, to ensure that individuals, families, and communities are ready. During National Preparedness Month (NPM), the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will host its 2nd Annual Public Safety Open House on September 18, 2010, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Combined Transportation, and Emergency Communication Center (CTECC), 5010 Old Manor Road Austin , Texas .  
 
This event is open to the public and media. They are anticipating at least 500 attendees who will learn about public safety initiatives, how to respond in emergencies, discover ways to help neighbors and get involved in community efforts. The event is part of Austin HSEM's participation in NPM 2010, a month set aside to encourage individuals and families to take steps now to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

Please note special parking instructions.  Last year, there were approximately 500 people who visited and this year is expected to be larger.  There is parking at Bartholomew Park Pool area with a shuttle to the CTECC  center.

The value of your Neighborhood Watch Groups is that these can also function as communication network within your neighborhood in case of a disaster.

Here is a downloadable pdf with all the info.  At this time, we are told that there will be information and interactive displays on the following:  Child fingerprinting and safety seat instructions from the Travis County Sherriff's Dept, APD Communications demonstration, an Austin Fire Department safety house plus the ladder/hose truck demos, EMS demos on CPR, first aid, Robomedic, ambulance truck and motorcycle that reaches remote areas, the APD Explorers program, APD Search and Rescue vehicle and dogs from the K9 unit, APD Mounted Patrols, Austin Volunteer CERT program, CLASP will be promoting Neighborhood Watch, and the Travis County Attorney's office will have info about underage drinking.  Bring your teenager - they will be allowed to drive a golf cart with the "beer goggles" on and experience first-hand what drunk driving is like in a safe setting (that display is the STAR CART educational program from APD).  And more!

Come by our table and say hi!  Hope to see you there and please take this opportunity to say thanks to all of our dedicated Public Safety workers who sometimes brave the elements and put their own welfare at risk to keep Austin safe.

 
APD has received an $800,000 grant for the installation and monitoring of surveillance cameras within the city.   APD plans for an estimated 26 cameras to be placed throughout Austin over a period of time.    At the June 5th Public Safety Commission meeting, a presentation was made by Asst Chief Al Eells who outlined the following details:

• The purpose of the cameras is for prevention, identification, apprehension and prosecution of criminal acts as they are identified. 
  
• Cameras will not be hidden, but instead are overt cameras that will be obvious to all
  
• Cameras will be recording 24/7 with retention of information for 10 days, then auto purging
  
• There will be quarterly random audits of camera procedures and equipment
  
• There is a privacy statement regarding appropriate use/ misuse which is part of the code of conduct and the network and computer use policy, and also the property and evidence control policy.
• A secure sign on with tracking and monitoring of employees who have used the system
• No one will be allowed to use the system without having undergone the training that is required.  Employees will sign an agreement to abide by the policies in effect.
• Measures for oversight include a Public Safety Camera Advisory Board composed of mostly APD personnel and other technical advisors from other city departments.
  
• Locations will be vetted at neighborhood Commanders Forums
• Areas of town are chosen by 1) analysis of 'hot spots'  2)  high numbers of people in the area  and 3) by community requests and support
  

The first pilot of the cameras will be installed at the Rundberg Lane/I35 and the downtown area.  At the August 10th North Austin Commanders Forum, Commander Ockletree outlined the procedures and took questions from residents.   An online poll was set up so that residents could participate in giving feedback on their opinions about having the cameras in the Rundberg area.  If you would like to participate in that poll, please contact Mary Rudig at info@gracywoods.org.

There will be a Commanders Forum held on Tuesday Sept 7th at the Mexican American Cultural Arts Center, Tuesday September 7th, 2010, 5:30pm - 7:00pm, Mexican American Cultural Center, Upstairs Rm. 212.  Commander Romoser will be discussing the cameras downtown and Operation Jackhammer.

A concerned citizen, a block captain, safety coordinator, board member, volunteer or other community activist

You can copy and paste the following email addresses in your email to Council

You can also call the Council Members offices and speak with them or their staff about your opinions.  Please feel free to give these numbers to your friends and neighbors who may not have a computer but would like to make their voice known:

Mayor Lee Leffingwell    974-2250               Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez    974-2264

Laura Morrison               974-2258                                        Chris Riley         974-2260

Randi Shade                   974-2255                                        Bill Spelman      974-2256

Sheryl Cole                     974-2266

Get the word out to your neighbors ..... only a few days remain to officially register for National Night Out which is held on

Tuesday, Oct 5th. 

Click here for the APD NNO homepage. 

Deadline is September 8th to register with the Community Liaison's office.






Let your residents know they are  not required to register, but if they want visits by APD, EMS, AFD or others, this is how it's done.  If you have never held a safety block party on your street before and would like some tips on doing so, please contact us at clasp.austin@gmail.com

Click here for the English PDF file that can be faxed to 974-6222
Click here for the Spanish PDF file that can be faxed to 974-6222

For additional information, please contact Rosie Salinas at the APD Community Liaison Office at (512) 974-4900 or by e-mail at nno@ci.austin.tx.us.

The Austin Police Department, Texas MedClinic, and Southpark Meadows are sponsoring the Run with the Heroes 5K to benefit Special Olympics Texas on
Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 8 a.m.

The"Run with the Heroes" 5K is a race with a purpose - more than just winning!  It was designed to bring communities together with first responders to honor fallen heroes of emergency services and to show support for their families.  Emergency responders, which include police, fire and EMS, are one large family and each year "Run with the Heroes" honors a fallen brother or suster.  This year's event will be in honor of fallen heroes:  Austin Police Officer Drew Bolin, EMS Paramedic Tracy Chambers, and Austin Firefighter James Glass.  Their spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of those who came into contact with them. 


To sign up for the run visit www.racetechs.com/register/run-with-the-heroes-2010 or you can follow it on Facebook at http://bit.ly/runwiththeheroes.

Allandale Neighborhood has undertaken a very strong effort to create a large number of Neighborhood Watch leaders throughout their expansive neighborhood.  In addition to approximately 95 block captains, Laura DiCarlo (safety coordinator for Allandale) has also recruited over 60 people who have attended training and committed to watching out for suspicious activity while driving, walking and NOW biking throughout the neighborhood.

They purchased some simple custom signs that are attached to the handlebars and also provided bicyclists with flags to improve visibility.  There is a sign-up board through Google and also a suspicious person/ vehicle tracking list that is maintained and shared among the volunteers.  And off they go each day multitasking - getting some exercise AND providing more eyes and ears to assist the police department throughout the neighborhood.

If you would like to start a similar program in your neighborhood, please contact Laura DiCarlo at lhdicarlo@yahoo.com. 


Laura has been very generous with her time in assisting other neighborhoods in setting up patrols and watches.  She can give you the info you need to get started.
Click here to see the KVUE story about Laura's neighborhood!

ALSO, Neighborhood Watch 101 is being held primarily for the North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods on Wednesday, September 15th at 7:30pm in the Capital Lodge #23 at 6809 Guadalupe.  Mary Rudig will be leading this presentation and she invites any and all to come!