Disaster Recovery News

Did you remember to set your clocks forward today? It is already that time of year, though it seems soon, and it is a good reminder to replace batteries in smoke and fire detectors. However, do not only change the batteries in alarms; test the alarms too to make sure they work.

Most fatal fires occur between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am: the hours when one is asleep. Those who are most at risk of being negatively affected by a fire are children and senior citizens. A working alarm can make the difference between getting out of a fire safely or not getting out at all.

Every household should have an emergency plan that includes what to do if there is a fire, two different exits in a home, and a portable disaster kit. Disaster kits should include flashlights, batteries, insurance information, and important contact numbers for those you may need to call.

Changing the battery in smoke and fire alarms at least once a year is one the best and easiest ways to prevent injuries and deaths that are fire-related. Another prevention measure to follow is to replace these alarms every ten years for new ones. A working alarm can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%.

Learn more tips about protecting your home against a fire.

A home in a Sacramento suburb exploded on Christmas Eve. Officials believe the explosion, which killed a man and injured five other people, was caused by a natural gas leak. It is not yet clear what ignited the gas. The home in which the explosion occurred was completely destroyed as the surrounding houses have been severely damaged.

The Associated Press reports 40 of the surrounding homes in the neighborhood were voluntarily evacuated as a safety precaution. Pacific Gas & Electric crews had been called into the neighborhood a day prior to the incident after residents reported smelling gas. The UPI NewsTrack states: “A PG&E spokesman said the crews could not shut off gas in an isolated area until they determined the exact location of the leak.”

Officials later returned to the neighborhood on Christmas day after residents reported smelling a gas leak. It was determined the second gas leak was caused by a propane tank, which was then sealed.

The National Transportation Safety Board, rather than PG&E, is investigating the cause of the initial, devastating gas leak as the gas pipelines run beneath the streets.

Learn about how disaster recovery specialists could assist resident in this neighborhood. Also, find out the steps to take after a disaster and the restoration process.

The American Red Cross states that house fires are America’s biggest disaster threat. They respond to 180 home fires per day.     

Here are some facts from their site about home fires:

• Of all the disasters the Red Cross responded to, 93% of those were fire-related.
• 80% of people living in the U.S. do not realize that home fires are the most common type of disaster in the country.
• Someone dies from a home fire about every 3.5 hours.
• Smoke alarms and sprinklers cut the risk of one dying in a home fire by 82%.
• Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires; heating fires are the second.
• Smoking is the #1 cause of home fire deaths.

Check out the American Red Cross’ site for tips about how to make your home fire safe, plan escape routes, and escape safely.

Check out this recovery site to learn how to protect your home from a fire. Also, learn how to restore “normalcy” after a fire.

Do your fire and smoke alarms work? Really?

The Post-Bulletin in Minnesota reports the fire marshal of St. Paul, Jerry Rosendahl, suggests the end of daylight savings time is a good part of the year to replace batteries in fire alarms. It is also suggested that alarms that are at least ten-years-old be replaced with new ones.

The fire marshal stated that 90% of homes in the United States have fire alarms, but as many as 30% of those alarms do not work because of old age or the batteries are dead. In Minnesota, 25% of the home fire-related deaths occurred in homes that did not have a working alarm.

Check out the U.S. Fire Administration for tips about fire and smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. It is recommended that a fire alarm be installed on every level of a home and outside the door of every bedroom.

Fortunately, there are services that can help restore your home and business after a fire. Click here to find out more about how such services can help clean, decontaminate, disinfect, and restore various types documents.

Photo by Cayusa.