Rising temperatures and dry conditions are the perfect ingredients for summer wildfires. While they seem more common in the western parts of the U.S., a wildfire can occur in any forested area of the country. Public service announcements on TV talk about preventing forest fires, but information about what to do in the event of a wildfire is not well known. As the weather grows warmer, keep the following tips in mind regarding wildfires.
Wildfires: What to Do
Prepare your family: Create an emergency disaster kitand plan where you would go if a wildfire caused you to evacuate. Think of more than one route to get to your evacuation destination as a wildfire may cause roads to close.
Prepare your home to in advance: During the summer, keep the plants surrounding your home pruned and well watered. Healthy plants around your home can help protect it from burning; dry plants fuel a fire. Additionally, make sure your irreplaceable items are in a fireproof location (like a safety deposit box) and that you have copies of important documents and cherished photographs in a location other than your home.
Keep all combustible away from your home, including propane tanks you use for your grill.
Call the fire department: If you see a wildfire, do not assume the fire department knows about it; you may be the first person to report the event.
Follow all evacuation orders: Staying in your home will not save it from a wildfire.
Plan to recover: Even the most prepared individuals can get caught off-guard. Keep the number of a disaster restoration company in your list of emergency contacts. They can help you recover from smoke damage, restore wet books and recover damaged documents.
Retirement, college funds, vacations, large purchases and rainy days are all reasons most people save money. However, many fail to save cash in the event of a disaster. It is common for vendors to only accept cash after a disaster as their electronic equipment may not work properly.
Experts recommend that you save emergency funds in your bank account in the event you cannot work after a disaster so you can continue to pay your bills using checks. However, you should also keep enough cash to pay for gas, food and water (in the event you run out), a telephone card and any additional supplies you may need. The amount you should save depends on the size of your household, medical needs and the needs of pets you may own.
When saving money for an emergency disaster kit, you can place a large amount in it right away or add small amounts to it every month so it grows. However, make the cash you save in your kit off-limits because you will depend upon this money if you experience a disaster. Consider placing the cash in a small, fireproof safe next to or inside your prepared emergency disaster kit.
March 14, 2011 officially kicks-off National Flood Safety Awareness Week as residents in the Northeast, Midwest and South continue to take care of the aftermath from recent floods and prepare for more. The National Weather Service reminds residents that flooding is a threat that can occur all over the U.S. during any time of the year. The goal of National Flood Safety Awareness Week is to educate people about the types of floods, the hazards associated with flood and about flood preparation.
Flood Safety
Floods are one of the most frequent and costly natural disasters in the U.S. One of the most important flood safety tips is to know the difference between a flood/flash flood watch and a flood/flash flood warning. Where there is a flood watch, this means there is a possibility of flooding in an area. On the other hand, a flood warning indicates there is already a flood in an area or flooding will happen soon.
When you hear about a flood or flash flood watch in your area, grab your emergency disaster kit, listen to the news for updates and be ready to evacuate. If you do need to evacuate, do not drive on a flooded road. It is hard to tell how deep the water is and rapidly moving water as low as two feet can sweep a car away. If you have to evacuate at night, find out if any of the roads are closed so you can adjust your route accordingly. Never wade in floodwater and keep children away from the water. Floodwater may be contaminated with toxic chemicals or contain sharp objects that you may not see.
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.
Residents of California are going to need more than just their raincoats and goulashes as rains hit the states, with heavier precipitation expected to fall on Southern California later on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday. An MSNBC report states the National Weather Service (NOAA) predicts that up to 8 inches of rain could fall in some parts of the state, with as much as 10 inches of snow in the mountains. As a result, NOAA has issued flood warnings, flashfloodwarnings and winter weather advisories across the state. Already, more than 13 feet of snow has fallen in the mountain ranges, as well as over 12 inches of rain.
Mud Slides Feared
MSNBC states that LA homes at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountain are at risk for experiencing damage from mudslides or debris flows that could carry trees, soil and boulders. Geologists have already detected debris flows of 3 feet per mile in the Arroyo Seco watercourse. If the rain falls at a rate of an inch per hour or more, the risk for debris flows or mudslides will be higher.
Evacuations
Officials in Kern County have already evacuated more than 2,000 residents because as many as 500 homes are at risk for flooding. If your neighborhood is being evacuated, follow the instructions of the rescue workers assisting with the efforts. Learn which streets are blocked, and let residents of the home who are away from it know that you have evacuated, the route you plan to take and where you plan to stay. While you are out, donot attempt to drive through large puddles or pools of water, as it does not take much to sweep a car into a current.
Make a Plan
Unexpected moments like these remind us of the importance of developing an emergency disaster plan and kit. What is equally as important as knowing how to get out of harm’s way is having a plan to get back on your feet after the event—a plan to recover and get your life and business back to normal.
Rising temperatures and dry conditions are the perfect ingredients for summer wildfires. While they seem more common in the western parts of the U.S., a wildfire can occur in any forested area of the country. Public service announcements on TV talk about preventing forest fires, but information about what to do in the event of a wildfire is not well known. As the weather grows warmer, keep the following tips in mind regarding wildfires.
