How can you avoid #Wildfire? #OKfire #AltusOK

FireFree Event Inspires Community to Take Action for Wildfire Prevention

In May 2015, Project Wildfire and its partners coordinated FireFree events in Oregon as part of the second annual National Fire Protection Association Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. The events held in Deschutes County and Jefferson County gave residents the opportunity to dispose of their yard debris free of charge at collections site in the counties.

With nearly 38,000 cubic yards of debris recycled, the 2015 event broke all prior FireFree records, and homeowner participation increased 27 percent over the previous year. These events served as the community’s preparedness activities for America’s PrepareAthon! 

To learn more about FireFree, read the full article located on the “Stories” page of the America’s PrepareAthon! website. You can also download the How to Prepare for a Wildfire guide to learn how to protect your family and home against these devastating fires.

Check out #safetychat this week. #AltusOK #WRN Skywarn

Join the ‘Safety Friends Unite’ Twitter Chat

Let’s hear it for National Preparedness Month! Get in the spirit of preparedness during a special Twitter chat titled, “Safety Friends Unite on Twitter for National Preparedness Month” hosted by America’s PrepareAthon! on Tuesday, September 22 at 3 PM ET.

This chat will highlight activities everyone can do including families, youth, and schools to prepare for emergencies. Featured guests will include preparedness friends from federal agencies and organizations that serve the community: 

• Ready Wrigley (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention);
• Flat Stella and Stanley (the Ready Campaign);
• Sparky the Fire Dog (National Fire Protection Association);
• Owlie Skywarn (National Weather Service);
• Ready Robin (Robins Air Force Base);
• Fred the Prep Dog;
• Lassie; and others!

Follow along using #SafetyChat.

https://tagboard.com/safetychat/search

How will you deal with a power outage? #ARRL #hamradio #NatlPrep

September is National Preparedness Month: Week 4

The hazard-focused theme for week 4 (September 20 – 26) of National Preparedness Month is power outage. Although power outages can happen anytime, they are often associated with severe weather. Since power outages can last for several hours or several days, it’s important to plan ahead. The Ready Campaign offers the following tips to prepare.

BEFORE a power outage:

• Charge devices that use battery power and ensure you have extra batteries for these devices;
• Identify local sources where dry or block ice can be purchased;
• Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to fuel their pumps;
• Create a disaster supply kit that includes alternative cell phone chargers, a flashlight, water & nonperishable food, a non-electric canopener, cash, and a battery or hand-crank radio.

If you require power for medical or assistive devices, get battery back-up for the devices, know how long the batteries will last, plan a location you can move to that has power, ask local Emergency Management for information about registering to be identified as someone that has power dependent medical devices, and learn what services may be available.

DURING a power outage:

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. For most standard size refrigerators and freezers, a cool temperature can be maintained for several hours. For food you need to use, plan on having a cooler with conventional or dry ice available;

• Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Never use candles due to extreme risk of fire;
• Only use a generator outside of your home and keep it away from windows and doors;
• For drugs that require refrigeration, check the manufacturer’s label or contact your doctor for guidance. Most drugs can be stored on ice for several hours; and
• Make preparations to keep refrigerated medications in a closed cooler until the power comes back on.

Learn the importance of being prepared for power outages and get more survival tips in FEMA’s “Going off Grid” resource guide.