I found some old cans of chemicals in my garage. What can I do with them?

First of all you try to determine through markings on the containers or other clues what types of chemicals are in the cans (i.e. pesticides, old oil or gas, cleaning solutions, etc.). The best way to dispose of these old chemicals is through the county’s Solid Waste District hazardous materials site, call the waste district at 419-228-8278 for more information.

Can you tell me what the Snow Emergency Level was on a certain day? What is it now? Can you write me a note for my employer?

The Snow Emergency Levels are usually published daily in the local newspaper, The Lima News. This is the best source of documentation of past Snow Emergency Levels. To find out the current condition you can check this website for official information or listen to local radio and TV stations. A downloadable history of all snow levels, dates and times for events within Allen County can be found on our home page at www.allen-ema.com.

I notice a strange smell outside my house and it’s coming inside now. Can you check it out?

Yes! You should report any unusual odors immediately to your local fire department or this agency. The Allen County EMA and your local fire department will both respond to investigate the unusual odor.

I noticed a shiny substance and unusual color on the creek down the road. Can you check it out?

Yes! Just as with an unusual odor, any unusual appearance of a local waterway should also be reported immediately to your local fire department or this agency. The Allen County EMA and your local fire department will both respond to investigate the unusual occurrence.

I didn’t hear the community warning siren during the monthly test today. I was in my house at the time. What’s wrong with the siren?

Perhaps there is nothing wrong. Remember, the community warning sirens are designed to warn persons outdoors that they should take shelter and go indoors. If you usually hear the warning siren in your home however, there may be something wrong with the siren and we’ll send our repair crews out to the siren in your area to check it out immediately.

Is the Allen County EMA like the local office of FEMA?

Not exactly. While the Allen County EMA, the Ohio EMA and FEMA are all part of the same “Emergency Management Agency” family we all very unique and charged with different and separate functions to perform. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is a federal agency charged with coordinating federal agencies response to disasters. Our nearest FEMA office is in Chicago. The FEMA director answers to the President of the United States and sits on the President’s Cabinet. The Ohio EMA is the state agency charged with coordinating Ohio’s response to major incidents and is based at the Ohio Emergency Operations Center in Columbus. The Ohio EMA director is appointed by the Governor. The Allen County EMA is the local government agency charged with coordinating the initial response to disasters and emergencies that occur here. The local EMA director is appointed and reports to the Allen County Board of County Commissioners.

In the event of a major disaster, all three of these agencies will work together to protect and serve the people affected.