Emergency preparedness taught to church group

RED OAK – Refuge Temple Ministries in Red Oak had several public safety visitors earlier this month when Red Oak Police Chief Garland Wolf alongside Captain Loss Horn with Red Oak Fire Rescue instructed about 20 congregation members on the ins and outs of fire drill exercises, response to an active attack, situational awareness, crisis response planning and strategies for critical events.  

Wolf said the church requested the public safety leaders to speak to and provide direction on their emergency operations plan in order for the congregation to understand necessary responses to various types of critical incidents. 

“We regularly provide physical security assessments based on a best practice model to churches, day cares, schools, businesses, and medical facilities if requested,” Wolf added. 

The public safety teams in Red Oak are always happy to visit and educate the public in many different areas throughout the city. 

Wolf said “We do this, so it is not a cookie cutter type presentation.

“This also allows us to get to know the requestor, have one on one facetime and collaborate on their issues and concerns making the interaction more personal and worthwhile.”  

Red Oak’s Lt. Jason Meeks also recently took his public safety knowledge to the Red Oak senior community members at Arabella of Red Oak.

His topic were concerning senior safety issues such as how seniors can recognize common safety and scams within the community.  

The truth is knowing what to do and how to respond in a crisis is critical and as the Red Oak Public Safety officials believe in a crisis and through repetitive training and constructive dialogue everyone can find the role they are comfortable with in order to function beyond the immediate reaction to a crisis.

“I believe it is important to continue to forge collaborative relationships to help community become safer and more self-aware of their own need for safety,” Wolf concluded.