Disaster Recovery News

Archive for the ‘Holiday Safety’ Category

Several deaths related to trying to keep warm

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

As the cold weather continues across the U.S., emergency workers are responding to a growing number of deaths. The reason behind the fatalities is due to inappropriate means of trying to stay warm.

WWL-FM105.3 of Louisiana reports that recent fires unnecessarily took the lives of a handful of people. The report states Fire Marshal Butch Browning shared: “…deadly fires not only occur because  of using inappropriate heating sources, but using proper heating sources like space heaters in an improper way.”

Browining also recommends only using a space heater when awake. Also, make sure smoke detectors in the home work. If not, Browing states, “your family has less than a 40% chance of waking up in a fire.”

Learn more about heating your home safely.

Winter: a wonderland or headache?

Monday, December 14th, 2009
Photo by Muffet

Photo by Muffet

Winter blanketed the United States last week with one big cold hug. Or was it a slap?

Freezing temperatures were seen coast to coast. Snow was dumped in the Midwest, Central, and East coasts. Below freezing temperatures hit the Northwest and left children wondering where all the snow was.

Sure, the snow and ice make for a romantic scene the first day or so. But what about all that which comes with freezing temperatures: frozen and burst pipes, snow melt, flooding and water damage, and mold? Keep reading to find out how one can be ready for the curveballs Mother Nature throws.

Tips for Preventing Expensive Winter Disasters

  • Don’t let pipes freeze.
    • Keep pipes insulated and the areas they are in warm.
    • Leave cabinets where pipes are located open to help prevent the water from within the pipes from freezing. When water freezes, it expands, which causes the pipes to break and burst with water.
  • Prevent ice dams from forming.
    • Ice dams are those buggers that form at the edge of sloped roofs or gutters after the snow melts off the roof and refreezes in these locations.
    • Insulate the floors of the attic well and keep the area well ventilated. The cooler an attic is the less snow and ice on the roof will melt.
  • Keep the snow out
    • Shovel snow away from the home. It is pretty funny when it snows so much it covers the door of the back porch. When the snow melts into the house and floods the laundry room, people stop laughing.
  • Prevent mold by keeping everything dry. Moisture attracts mold, which can cause damage to property and health problems in humans and pets.
    • If a building floods or sustains any water damage, dry it ASAP. If the water damage is extensive, call in a restoration specialist to assist.
    • Dehumidify rooms that are damper, like basements and bathrooms. Make sure there is good air circulation in there as well.

Taking simple preventative measure can make winters more bearable.

Learn more about home maintenance during the winter months.

Weekend snow overwhelms Colorado

Monday, November 16th, 2009
Photo by joka2000

Photo by joka2000

Denver received almost a foot of snow this weekend in a very short amount of time. The Front Range and east plains also did not get left out. USA Today reported the snow was deep enough for some of the airlines at Denver International Airport to have cancelled flights.

The National Weather Service had issued snow advisories in the affected area, but cancelled their warnings after the snow had stopped falling in the Denver area.

Areas of Colorado’s eastern plains also had snow warnings, but they were not cancelled as they had strong winds that made visibility impossible at times. Hundreds of people were called from the Colorado Department of Transportation to help get the roads cleaned-up across the areas affected.

Knowing that sudden cold weather can unexpectedly hit, home and business owners should make it a priority to winterize their buildings and homes. One of the most important things to focus on is making sure pipes do not freeze and burst, which can cause flooding. With the holidays coming up quickly, there are many other things one would rather deal with than a flooded home or office.

National emergency contact information

Saturday, August 15th, 2009
Register today

Image from NOKR website

Many of us have already heard of putting “ICE” in our cell phones, address books, PDA’s, etc. ICE stands for: In Case of Emergency. Next to “ICE”, one is to place the name and phone number of an emergency contact. This is useful for emergency service workers, doctors, civil servants, etc. should they need to call an emergency contact person and one is not able to communicate this information.

There is also a free tool that helps with this type of service; it’s the Next of Kin Registry (NOKR). NOKR’s website states:

“NOKR is the central depository for Emergency Contact information in the United States.

…NOKR provides the public a free proactive service to store your emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies. Stored information is only accessible via a secure area that is only accessible by emergency public trust agencies that have registered with NOKR.”

NOKR has registration forms that can be filled and submitted via fax, US mail, or online. They also provide free decals for ID cards, driver’s licenses, passports, etc. that let others know your emergency contact information can be found with NOKR.

Learn more about planning for an emergency.

FEMA Assisting in Kentucky Winter Storm

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Several areas in Kentucky have lost the use of major means of communications and electricity due to the severe winter storms the state experienced. A state of emergency was declared, allowing FEMA to step in and provide assistance to the state devastated by severe ice and snowstorms. Areas of the state have lost electricity, telephone and radio service, and water services.

61 counties are receiving federal assistance as emergency generators, prepared meals, water, and truckloads of fuel are being provided to the state of Kentucky. Find more information about Kentucky’s state of emergency on FEMA’s website.

Learn how to safely heat your home during the harsh winter months.

Read about how to prevent pipes in your home and business from freezing.