Earthquake Safety

During any storm or weather related emergency, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed, about watches and warnings.

• Have an earthquake readiness plan. Take a look at FEMA.gov for ideas
• Find a spot in your house where it is least likely for something to fall on you.
• Know how to turn off your gas and water mains.
• When an earthquake starts shaking drop down take cover under a desk, table or other solid surface.
• If you’re inside when the shaking begins stay where you are until you know for sure it’s safe.
• Stay away from any heavy furniture that might fall on you including bookcases.
• Stay away from windows.
• If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Get close to the ground and try to protect your head.
• If you are driving stay in the car until the shaking stops. Find a clear place and park the car.

Hurricane Safety

• Before hurricane season trim or remove damaged trees and limbs to keep you and your property safe.
• Clean out rain gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage to your property.
• Purchase plywood or other material ahead of time to secure your doors & windows.
• Purchase a portable generator or install a generator for use during power outages.
• Choose a room in your home where everyone will gather. A basement, storm cellar interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Often this will be a closet or a bathroom.
• Bring any outdoor furniture, garbage cans or any other item the wind can pick up and become a projectile.

Note: Only operate generators outdoors with at least 20 feet away from windows and doors and kept dry to avoid accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Blizzard Safety

• Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
• Insulate your home from cold air. If storms windows aren’t in the budget cover them with plastic to bar drafts.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
• Sand, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery.
• Ample alternate heating methods such as fireplaces or wood- or coal-burning stoves.
• Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing. If you have water lines in your garage make sure to keep the garage doors closed.
• Opening kitchen & bathroom cabinet doors will allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing to help keep those water lines clear.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
• Carbon Monoxide can be a killer. Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Call for help and remain in fresh air until emergency personnel arrive.
• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
• Learn the signs & symptoms of frostbite and/or hypothermia. These are both potentially life-threatening. Take a first aid class if at all possible so you are prepared in a true emergency.
  Warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and extra blankets and warm clothing for all household members.
• Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power or heat during periods of extreme cold.

Tornado Safety

• Know your community’s warning system. Are there outdoor sirens?
• Practice periodic tornado drills. Our city does a test of their tornado sirens at noon on the first Saturday of each month.
• This is the perfect time for a family drill so that everyone knows what to do when the real even happens.
• Remove limbs from trees and shrubs that may cause damage during high winds.
• Choose a room in your home where everyone will gather. A basement, storm cellar interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Often this will be a closet or a bathroom.
• Bring any outdoor furniture, garbage cans or any other item the wind can pick up and become a projectile.
• Know what the tornado danger signs are:
  • Dark, often greenish clouds—a phenomenon caused by hail
  • Wall cloud—an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm
  • Cloud of debris
  • Large hail
  • Funnel cloud—a visible rotating extension of the cloud base
  • Roaring noise
• If you are home when a tornado hits take great care if your home has been affected.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines.
• Immediately leave damaged buildings and/or stay out of damaged buildings.
• Use battery-powered flashlights when examining buildings—do not use candles in case of undetected gas line leaks.
• If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly and call the gas company or fire department, if possible.
• Clean up spilled chemicals, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.
• Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls but report outages to the utility company when it is practical.