Hurricane Sandy Emergency Resources and Information

by California Casualty | Safety | 0 comments

As Hurricane Sandy whirls her way ashore–teaming up with winter storm conditions and a full moon as she does so–it’s becoming more and more clear that this storm has the potential to be extremely dangerous and damaging to communities all along the East Coast.

Late last week, we posted tips on how to prepare your family, self, and home for Hurricanes and Winter Storm conditions. To access that information–including checklists, preparation plans and pet and business info–click here.

As Sandy begins to make landfall, we want to make sure all those affected know where to get up-to-date, reliable information regarding evacuations, weather updates, and other emergency information.

Here are some emergency resources:

This Google Crisis Map tracks Sandy’s progress, providing forecast tracks, current locations and active emergency shelter locations. Access the map here: Google Crisis Map.
For the latest updates on Hurricane Sandy from the National Hurricane Center, click here.
For a map of the latest warnings and advisories from the National Hurricane Center, click here.
For state-specific information, click on YOUR state below:
1. CT
2. DE
3. MA
4. MD
5. ME
6. NC
7. NH
8. NJ
9. NY
10. New York City
11. PA
12. VA
13. VT
If you lose power or Internet signal and need to access Twitter to get Emergency Information, click here for tips on how to do so with your phone. For the Huffington Post’s suggestions on the Best Storm Tracker Apps, click here. We recommend following @FEMA to stay informed.
It can be difficult to stay in touch with or reach family members during an emergency. The American Red Cross Safe and Well website allows you to register your current status or check on the status of your loved ones.
To download the Free FEMA app for disaster safety tips, emergency meeting location information and a map of open shelters, click here.

As Sandy makes her way onto land, all those affected are in our thoughts. Please be smart and safe.

Not in Sandy’s path but looking to help those who are? Click here to head to the American Red Cross Donation page.

Frankensafety

by California Casualty | Safety | 0 comments

Halloween is less than a week away… but on the East Coast, something far scarier is brewing.

As Hurricane Sandy sets her sites on our shores, meteorologists warn that the hurricane conditions could mix with a winter storm to create a hybrid superstorm.

Due to the storm’s hybrid nature, and its Halloween-timed landfall, news agencies have dubbed it…

The Frankenstorm.

but for every Frankenstorm, we of course need…

Frankensafety.

But… how exactly does one prepare for a storm that is an unprecedented mix of both winter and hurricane conditions?

We thought you might ask.

Since reports are all over the map–with some saying the storm will be a dud and others calling it the storm of the century–we’re going with the prepare for all possibilities plan.

Frankenstorm is a two-headed beast. So below are some safety and preparation tips to tackle both hurricane safety and winter storm safety ‘head on.’

Hurricane Safety Tips:

Build an emergency kit. Tips for building the kit can be found here
Learn the elevation of your property and whether it is flood-prone
Study community hurricane evacuation routes
1. Know where you would go if a hurricane hit
2. Make a plan on how to evacuate. A downloadable Family Emergency Plan can be found here. Print it off and complete it.
3. Practice your plan
Develop a plan for your pet. A great list of steps and supplies from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) can be found here.
Don’t forget about your business. Hurricane preparation does not end at home. Here is a great Business Survival Plan from the National Hurricane Survival Initiative
Pay attention to the news. Know the guidelines of when you should evacuate and when you should stay. A good guide from the National Hurricane Survival Initiative can be found here.
Cover all your home’s windows.
Brush up on your watches and warning terms. That way, you’ll understand the risk and can better make safety and evacuation decisions. A good review from FLASH can be found here.
Install straps or clips to securely fasten your roof to your frame structure to reduce wind damage
Keep trees well-trimmed
Clear loose or clogged rain gutters
Reinforce your garage doors
Bring in ALL outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and similar items that are not tied down
If you live in a high rise, prepare to take shelter on or below the 10^th floor
Print out and LAMINATE (to protect from water), tips for what to do during and after a hurricane and put them with your safety kit. You can find “during and after a hurricane” tips here.
Check your property insurance policy for appropriate coverage. Here’s some information on California Casualty’s coverage and here’s some information on flood insurance-an important factor in Hurricane recovery.

Winter Storm Safety Tips:

Prepare an emergency kit. Click here for tips.
Add these winter-storm specific items to your existing kit:

Rock salt or other products to melt ice on walkways. Here’s a list of recommended products from the EPA.
Sand to improve traction
Snow shovels and snow removal equipment
Heating fuel in case you lose power. Be sure to store good, dry wood for your fireplace or stove
Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm

Read, print off, and laminate this Red Cross Storm Safety Checklist. Make sure you have a safety plan, and that you review it with your children
If it gets cold and you want to use a heater, be SURE to read these safety tips! Portable heaters cause fires!
Review these tips for pet safety during a winter storm
Minimize travel. One of the most dangerous places during a snow storm is roadways. If you can, stay inside.
Listen to the radio and be aware of changing weather conditions. To brush up on your winter snow storm terms, click here.

This Frankenstorm has the potential to be dangerous and deadly. Please protect yourself, your family and your home. Review your safety and preparedness plan BEFORE the storm hits.

(And in the meantime, we’ll hope it’s just like all those bad horror movies: All hype, no scare.)

True Heroes

by California Casualty | Educators, Firefighters, Nominate a Hero, Nurses, Peace Officers | 0 comments

Fire Safety Month and Fire Prevention Week

by California Casualty | Firefighters | 1 comment

We’ve all heard Benjamin Franklin’s famous line…

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

But you know what? When it comes to Fire Prevention, it’s so true. Just ask a Firefighter.

October is National Fire Safety Month!

And October 7-13 is National Fire Prevention Week.

What can you do to prevent a dangerous and damaging fire? Here are some tips!

Put a smoke alarm on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom.
If you have hearing problems, use alarms with flashing strobe lights and vibration.
Test smoke alarms every month. Test your smoke alarms and practice your escape plan at night to see if your child will wake up and respond to the alarm. Children sleep more deeply and may not wake up. If your child does not wake up to the alarm, try an alarm where you can program your voice to alert him or her.
Replace batteries once a year, even if alarms are hardwired.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings since smoke rises. Ceiling-mounted alarms should be installed at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall. Wall-mounted alarms should be installed 4 to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
Plan and practice several escape routes and a safe place to meet outside.
Plan and practice two escape routes out of each room of the house. It is important to have an alternate escape route in case one is blocked by fire.
Fire drills should be practiced at least twice a year. Home fires and home fire-related deaths are more likely to occur during cold-weather months, December through February.
Designate an outside meeting place, so all members of the family can be accounted for quickly. Once you are outside, call the fire department or 911 from a cell phone or neighbor’s phone.
Teach safety. A child who is coached properly ahead of time may have a better chance of surviving.
Teach children never to go back into a burning building for anything such as a toy or pet, and to call the fire department or 911 from a neighbor’s home or a cell phone outside.
Teach children that if their clothes catch on fire, they should immediately stop, drop to the ground and roll themselves back and forth quickly to extinguish the flames.
Take children to your local fire station for a tour. Children will be able to see a firefighter in full gear and learn that he or she is someone who saves children – not someone to be afraid of or hide from.
Teach children to never touch or play with matches, candles, gasoline or lighters.
Check the kitchen for preventable hazards and supervise children at all times in the kitchen.
Keep children away from cooking and heating appliances. Never leave the kitchen while cooking and never leave a child alone.
Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
Cook with pots and pans on back burners. Turn handles away from the front.
Keep matches, lighters, and gasoline locked away and out of children’s reach. Keep flammable items such as clothing, furniture, newspapers or magazines at least three feet away from the fireplace, heater or radiator.
Store all flammable liquids such as gasoline outside of the home.
Place space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can catch fire such as curtains or papers.
Always turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Plug an electric space heater into an outlet with enough capacity. Never plug it into an extension cord.
Place covers over unused electrical outlets and avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
Replace old or frayed electrical wires and appliance cords, and keep them on top of, not beneath rugs.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Place candles in a safe location away from combustible materials and where children or pets cannot tip them over.
Have chimneys cleaned and inspected once a year.