On Monday, April 15, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers of the Eric Rood Administrative Center, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services presents Situational Awareness, the third in a four-part speaker series designed to educate and inspire the community to prepare for fire season. The event will be moderated by Pascale Fusshoeller, Co-Editor of YubaNet.
Situational Awareness is the technical term emergency managers, community organizers, and first responders use to encourage everyone to use all the tools available to stay aware of their surroundings. There is no "one size fits all" plan for emergency preparedness so community members are encouraged to attend to learn how to craft a strategy for themselves, their loved-ones, and neighborhood. The safety of our county depends on a higher level of engagement with each other and panelists will be on hand to discuss strategic tips on how to both prepare yourself and educate others. Nevada County Sherriff Captain Jeff Pettitt, now overseeing Nevada County's Office of Emergency Services, and FREED Executive Director Ana Acton will cover the basics of fire preparedness as well as specific tips to help us all become more situationally aware. This is a great opportunity to check your CodeRED status, learn the latest advice about Red Flag Warning Days, and review how your plan may need to adapt based on time of day, location, or recent life changes. We are living in a new normal so even if you already have your plan, join us to refresh your strategy or learn how to help someone else with theirs.
Watch Live Online
For those unable to attend, this meeting will be live-streamed on the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services Facebook, cable channel 18, and online at Nevada County Digital Media Center's website: NevadaCountyTV.org. ASL interpreter on site and in recording.
About Jeff Pettit
Nevada County Sheriff Captain Jeff Pettitt is now overseeing Nevada County's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Recognizing wildfire prevention and preparedness are a top community and Board of Supervisors priority, the County's OES Program has risen to a new level of criticality and importance. There is now a greater need for OES to partner and coordinate closely and continuously with Fire, Police, Sheriff, State OES, FEMA, and other first responder agencies year-round.
Pettitt began his career with the Sheriff's Office in 1999 after spending six years in the military. He has worked in a variety of positions including Patrol, Major Crimes Unit, Truckee substation, and the Personnel and Training Unit. Pettitt promoted to Captain in 2012 as the Jail Commander overseeing the Corrections division. Since promoting to Captain, Pettitt has commanded each division within the Sheriff's Office and has recently rotated back to Corrections.
Pettitt will be reviewing what Nevada County residents can do now to prepare for wildfires and understand when the likelihood for fire is high. He will discuss evacuations, evacuation terminology, when and where to go should an order be given.
About Ana Acton
Ana Acton lives in Nevada City and is the Executive Director for FREED Center for Independent Living serving Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, and Sierra counties. As a non-profit disability resource center, FREED's goal is to empower people with disabilities to exercise their civil rights in becoming active, productive members of our community. FREED serves people of all ages and with any type of disability including seniors. Since 2007, Ana hosts "Disability Rap" on KVMR, covering current and emerging disability issues and topics and often includes special guests from across the nation. Ana's expertise and insight into emergency preparedness is an asset to the entire community.
