Information You Need to Stay Stronger, Together. In this edition...
TML Annual Conference
Loss Prevention T.I.P.S.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
OSHA Policy Update
Stronger, Together Podcast Series - Episode 9
Member Spotlight: America's Top Dog
Member Spotlight: Fair Oaks Ranch
TMLIRP Alerts
News and Information
Don’t Miss the Risk Pool at the TML Annual Conference!
Come see us in the Exhibit Hall at booth #624!
Join the Risk Pool’s Intergovernmental Relations Manager, Scott Houston, as he moderates “The Top Three Risk Perils for Cities: What’s the Law and How the Risk Pool Can Help” on Friday, October 8, from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. You’ll hear from the Pool’s managers about the major risks that cities face, including natural disasters like hurricanes and hailstorms, law enforcement liability issues, and pandemic/workers’ compensation issues for first responders. Learn the basics of each issue, how you can help mitigate the associate risks, and how the Risk Pool can assist you with an incident.
Check out TML Risk Pool's latest Blog:Fall Colors: Plan Your Texas Road Trip to See the Seasonal Changes
Right next to carving pumpkins, handing out treats to the little ones at Halloween, and getting lost in a local corn maze is the chance to hit the Texas highways and glimpse the fall colors. Read more.
LATEST EPISODE: Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast
Local governments, in addition to the nuts-and-bolts services they provide, are actually just as much in the business of providing and maintaining information, and local officials should recognize that they should work at it just as hard at protecting that information as they do providing law enforcement and maintaining streets and water lines.
You’ve got to think of cybersecurity as part of your daily work serving and protecting your residents. In today’s world, you just can’t afford to be unprepared – that’s true whether your population is 250,000 or 250.
In this episode, you’ll hear why local governments are frequently target by cyber-criminals, how the Risk Pool can help you avoid trouble on the front end, and that we’ve got your back should you get hacked.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 begins on October 1st
Click here for tips on how to prevent a phishing attack. Over the upcoming weeks, the Risk Pool will be sharing helpful tips and resources to help you become more cyber secure. Be on the lookout for more information on how to “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”
OSHA Policy Update
On September 9th, 2021, President Biden directed the Department of Labor to require all employers with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccinations for their workforce or, in the alternative, institute weekly testing for unvaccinated employees. This directive would be accomplished via a new Emergency Temporary Standard ("ETS") issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") within the Department of Labor. Read more here about the OSHA Temporary Emergency Standard.
Member Spotlight
A&E Original: America's Top Dog – Season 3:
"America's Top Dog" features furry friends alongside their handlers facing off on a massive canine obstacle course designed to test their speed, agility, teamwork, and trust. Two members of the Sherman Police Department, Jaeger, the Belgian Malinois, and his trainer Officer Bregoree Anderson, competed and won in their episode of season 3 of the A&E series!The partners work together on the Sherman Police Department’s K-9 Team. Officer Anderson also just happens to be the son of Brenda Anderson, who works in the Pool’s workers’ compensation department. Congrats to Officer Anderson, his K-9 partner Jaeger, and the City of Sherman Police Department!
Top 10 Safest, with Fair Oaks Ranch at Number 3!
The National Council for Home Safety and Security & SafeWise have announced their rankings for the top 10 safest cities in Texas for 2021. This ranking is up 4 places from 2020 where Fair Oaks Ranch sat at the 7th safest in Texas. This marks the fourth year in a row that the City of Fair Oaks Ranch has ranked in the top 10 Safest Cities in Texas. Fair Oaks Ranch also sits as the only city in the San Antonio region to rank in the top 10. Congratulations to Fair Oaks Ranch and the rest of the cities in the top 10! Click here for more info on the top 10.
Service In Focus
TMLIRP Alerts: The Risk Pool and SynergyNDS are standing by to support Members before, during and after severe storm events. The first alert was sent out during Hurricane Nicholas. TMLIRP Alerts are designed to provide Members with key information before, during, and after potential catastrophe events. Information incorporated in these alerts include:
Up-to-date weather forecasts
Actions TMLIRP is taking to prepare for potential claims
Actions Members can take to prepare for the event
Methods to report claims
Resources available through SynergyNDS, approved response partner for TMLIRP Members
How are TMLIRP Alerts sent?
TMLIRP Alerts are distributed via email and targeted on a regional basis to ensure that only Members in potentially affected areas receive them.
What type of “events” are TMLIRP Alerts used for?
TMLIRP Alerts are sent for events such as Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, large scale hail and flood events and other potentially widespread weather occurrences.
Who should receive TMLIRP Alerts?
Fund contacts in the affected area will automatically receive the alerts, but all Member staff involved with claims and loss recovery are encouraged to sign up as well. This includes, but is not limited to, City Managers, Risk Managers, EOC/Emergency Management Directors, First Responders, Public Works, etc.
In order to give Members a clearer decision path for responding to alerts, TMLIRP will begin using a new alert rating system. The rating system will be based upon a combination of data that takes into account the following factors with regard to a weather event: Current NOAA Data, Relative Proximity to Texas and Predicted Path & Intensification Data from various sources. We will use a 5-number rating system in ascending order of intensity (similar to how hurricane intensity is rated) in order to help you determine how you should respond to alert information. The numbering system will work as follows:
Level 1 - LOW - Alert will provide information to TMLIRP Members in the entire state of Texas. This level will provide information about tropical weather with a very low potential of affecting Texas within 7 days. This will include tropical waves with a low chance of development as well as tropical storms and hurricanes that are 7+ days away from Texas with a very small chance of affecting Texas based upon NOAA and model predictions*. These alerts may also include other weather events that Members should be aware of, but for which Members should not have direct, immediate concern.
*In some cases, we may decide to withhold Level 1 alerts for tropical events developing in areas that have little-to-no immediate potential for impacting Texas.
Member Response: Awareness
Level 2 LOW-MODERATE- Alert will provide information to TMLIRP Members in the entire state of Texas. This level will provide information about tropical weather with a low-moderate potential of affecting Texas within 5 days. This will include tropical waves with a moderate chance of development as well as tropical storms and hurricanes that are 5 days away from Texas with a low-moderate chance of affecting Texas based upon NOAA and model predictions*. These alerts may also include other weather events that Members should be aware of, but for which Members should not have direct, immediate concern.
*In some cases, we may decide to withhold Level 2 alerts for tropical events developing in areas that have little-to-no immediate potential for impacting Texas.
Member Response: Awareness & Limited Action (Possible communication with internal Disaster Preparedness Team Members as to Knowledge of Weather Event)
Level 3 MODERATE - Alert will provide information to TMLIRP Members in the entire state of Texas. This level will provide information about tropical weather with a moderate potential of affecting Texas within 3-5 days. This will include tropical waves with a moderate-high chance of development as well as tropical storms and hurricanes that are 3-5 days away from Texas with a moderate chance of affecting Texas based upon NOAA and model predictions. These alerts may also include other weather events that Members should be aware of with moderate concern.
Member Response: Awareness & Action with Stakeholders (Potential implementation of Disaster Preparedness Plans)
Level 4 - MODERATE-HIGH - Alert will provide information to all TMLIRP Members within and in the vicinity of the 5-Day Forecast Cones issued by NOAA. This level will provide information about Tropical Storms and Hurricanes with a potential to impact parts of Texas within the next 24 hours. These alerts will come in with the “High Priority” setting in Microsoft Outlook used to alert Members of the importance of the email. After a Level 4 Alert, Members in the 5-Day Forecast Cones will receive communications from the TMLIRP Recovery Program Manager in order to ensure that the following are reviewed: Emergency Contacts, Critical Assets, Member Expectations/Requirements, Pre-Staging of Assets, etc…
Member Response: Awareness, Implementation of Disaster Preparedness Plans, Communications with TMLIRP Recovery Program Manager(Members should be actively preparing for the possibility of an event in their area)
Level 5 - HIGH Level - Alert will provide information to all TMLIRP Members in the potential 3-Day/5-Day Forecast Cones issued by NOAA. This level will provide information about Tropical Storms and Hurricanes with a potential to impact Texas within 1-3 days. These alerts will come in with the “High Priority” setting in Microsoft Outlook used to alert Members of the importance of the email. After a Level 5 Alert, Members in the Forecast Cones will receive communications from the TMLIRP Recovery Program Manager in order to finalize disaster preparations, contact Emergency Contacts, confirm pre-staging of Assets and TMLIRP Rapid Damage Assessment personnel, establish Post-Event Meeting Locations, etc…
Member Response: Awareness, Execution of Disaster Preparedness Plans, Communications with TMLIRP Recovery Program Manager (Members should be making final preparations for the possibility of an event in their area)
Upcoming Loss Prevention Training
Click here for more information on Loss Prevention Training that has been scheduled through the end of 2021.
