Spring officially starts in less than a month, but you wouldn’t know from by looking at the weather across the U.S. and reading predicted forecasts.
Northwest
Snow is falling over parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies that generally do not see snow this late in the winter season. For example, the forecast predicts up to four inches of snowfall in the Seattle, WA and Portland, OR area. Residents in the Northwest are going to have to put off their spring-cleaning for another day and, in the mean time, make sure their plumbing is insulated well to prevent burst pipes and water damage.
South
As the South battles wildfires with their neighboring Eastern states, The Weather Channel predicts a severe storm outbreak in the Dixie Valley—parts of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley. Meteorologist Dr. Greg Forbes expects the storms to begin as early as Thursday. Residents in this area can expect to see floods, large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Those living in this area should prepare emergency disaster kits that contain the phone numbers of their insurance agents and a restorationspecialist. Residents should also be ready to evacuate their homes if directed by emergency personnel.
East
Not getting any breaks from Mother Nature, the Eastern states continue to battle wildfires. Residents are on alert in many communities, and are prepared to evacuate their homes. The low humidity and winds continue to fuel the fires, and this is not expected to change in the immediate future. Like those in the South, residents who are a wildfire should prepare an emergency disaster kit. Learn how to prepare for fire damage.
Wildfire crews with the Texas Forest Service responded to six wildfires that spanned 1,124 acres over the weekend. Over the last week, however, 50 wildfires affected 20,670 acres of Texas land. In response, fire managers with the Texas Forest Services are using aircraft in many of the inaccessible parts of the state, such as Type I helicopters and single-engine airtankers (SEATs).
Wildfire Outlook
The weather is not cooperating with the firefighting efforts. The Texas Forest Service states:
“…Confidence is low at this time because there is a deepening upper air trough over the desert Southwest that is not consistent with ‘Outbreak’ models. Still, other solutions indicate a dry zone from the Trans Pecos to the Panhandle, with relative humidity at 10 to 15 percent and wind speeds in the 25 to 35 mph range. The fastest winds aloft will occur in the Panhandle, while the driest air will be over the Trans Pecos and western Permian Basin, possibly keeping the ‘Outbreak’ scenario at bay. In any case, thick, dry vegetation is ripe for ignition across the entire western half of the state, and even moderate winds could rapidly push fires out of control…”
Wildfire Preparation
If your home or business is in the path of a wildfire, follow the safety instructions provided by emergency personnel. Prepare an emergency disaster kit and evacuate the area if necessary.
It is NationalFire Prevention Week. While much of fire safety focuses on tips for the home, it is also important to prevent fires at your business. Most business owners do not think about hazards they cannot control until it is too late. There are techniques offices can implement to prevent fires and get back on their feet when the unthinkable happens.
Office Fire Prevention
Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Use several different outlets with surge protectors to prevent sparks from flying.
Purchase fireproof file cabinets and safes. Place important documents and items in them so you do not lose them in a fire.
Check the batteries in smoke alarms on a monthly basis, and replace the batteries every year.
Replace empty fire extinguishers.
Unplug non-essential machines, such as coffee pots and space heaters, on a nightly basis.
Do not keep flammable materials in the building.
Conduct emergency drills on a regular basis with office staff.
After speaking to your insurance agent, contact a fire restoration specialist immediately after a fire. Disaster recovery services will help clean a building affected by smoke, fire, or water and check it for safety. Additionally, these professionals use document restoration techniques.
Continue conducting business at a preplanned remote location while your office is being restored.
The colder weather means it is time to put wood on the fireplace and turn on the heaters. Because the fall and winter months bring cause for celebrations, the risk of house fires is greater because of all the heating equipment used. In honor of the upcoming Fire Prevention Week, consider the following fire safety tips for when the weather turns cold.
Fall and Winter Fire Safety Tips
If you have a fireplace, make sure you know how the flue works and have a certified chimney sweep clean your chimney.
Cover the front of the fireplace with a screen to help control sparks.
Dispose of ashes from the fireplace in a metal container kept outside of the home.
Keep space heaters at least 3-feet away from walls, furniture and any other items in a room.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside of every bedroom. Make sure the smoke alarms you already have in your home work.
Keep a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, in an easy-to-find location. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and one near the fireplace.
Use holiday decorations that are flame resistance.
Only use indoor decorative lights inside your home; use outdoor decorative lights outside. Use clips instead of nails to hang strands of lights.
Keep candles away from holiday decorations. Never leave candles unattended, particularly around children and pets.
While cooking, do not leave food on the stovetop unattended.
The Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op suffered major fire damage after a September 7, 2010 blaze broke out in the northwest corner of the building, causing smoke andwater damage throughout the facility. As a result, the food processing facility will be closed during the remediation process. The cause of the fire is unknown.
“The Lucknow Sentinel” reports the roofing system will be changed and cleaned because of smoke damage. The Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op’s board of directors have opened a temporary retail store and offices during the clean-up. Additionally, those who previously worked in the damaged plant have new responsibilities to help clean and repair the facility so they do not suffer a loss of income.
Aside from the obvious consequences of the fire, the disaster was also detrimental to business matters. It is reported that the Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op was working towards sealing a deal with retail giant Wal-Mart and was preparing for the holiday season before the incident. Now these matters are forced to be on the backburner until the plant is operational again.
Like the Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op, it is important that companies have a business disaster plan should the unthinkable ever happen. The disaster preparations should include a plan to recover and a business continuity plan so business operations can still take place. The recovery process, however, is not just about fixing a damaged building. It also includes plans to restore wet documents and remediate mold damage.
