September 11, 2001 was day that would have been remembered for its beautiful weather. Then, at 8:46 a.m., 5 hijackers crashed American Airlines flight 11 into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, and our worlds changed forever.
In the chaos that followed, the first responders of New York City and Washington, D.C. rushed headlong into the burning buildings in an attempt to save the people trapped inside, despite knowing the immense danger they were placing themselves in. Over the course of that day, a total of 411 first responders were killed – 341 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 paramedics.
We wanted to take some time today to share some sites with stories to remember and honor these heroes, check out the links below to read more about a few of the people who went above and beyond the call of duty on that day:
Emergencies can strike when you least expect them, which is why we encourage all our customers to take steps to be prepared in the event an unexpected disaster strikes. That’s why we wanted to share FEMA’s efforts to help you prepare this month.
This September not only marks the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, it is also National Preparedness Month (NPM), which focuses this year on “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.”
During September, we will remember those lost, honor our first responders, and renew our commitment to preparedness.
How can you participate? Go to Ready.gov to learn more. There, you can access kits, information, and guides to help you prepare your family for an emergency. There’s even a section for pet owners!
Hurricane season is here, and with it comes the risk of damaging storms in coastal areas. While your primary goal should be emergency supplies and an evacuation plan to keep you and your family safe, there are also some steps to take to protect your home from catastrophic damage.
One of the biggest keys to protecting your home from damage is to secure the windows. Why is this important? For one, once the windows shatter, the high winds enter the house, wreaking havoc and causing interior damage. The most important reason is that as hurricane winds blow into the house, it creates upward pressure on the roof. This pressure may be enough to blow the roof off – which will likely lead to the total destruction of your home.
The ideal way to protect your windows is to install heavy duty wood or metal storm shutters. This can be quite an investment, but one that will pay off in protection, as well as the ability to quickly respond to the threat. Alternatively, you can use marine plywood attached to your home’s exterior. It is recommended that you have these pieces purchased, cut, and pre-drilled/ready to install before a hurricane watch is in place. If you wait until danger is bearing down on you, it may be too late.
Some other tips to protect your home during a hurricane:
Remove dead trees or tree limbs on your property
Be aware if your home is in a storm surge danger area
Create a “safe room” in your house
Keep battery powered radios, flashlights, and extra batteries on hand.
Carbon monoxide (CO) in your home can be a quiet, deadly killer. You can’t see or smell it, but in high enough levels, it can kill someone in moments. CO is produced whenever any fuel is burned – oil, gas, wood, charcoal, etc…Typically, the amount released into your home environment from well-maintained and properly operating appliances, but still hundreds of people die every year from CO poisoning.
Symptoms of CO poisoning:
dizziness
confusion
nausea
fainting
If you suspect CO poisoning – get to fresh air, and get an emergency room quickly. Be sure to let the doctor know you suspect CO poisoning.
Prevention is the best way to avoid CO Poisoning
Have your fuel burning appliances checked regularly
Don’t idle your car in your garage
Choose appliances that vent outside whenever possible
Follow all instructions on your fuel burning appliances
Install CO detectors
Don’t ignore any symptoms, especially if multiple members of the household experience them
Did you know, every year there are around 10,000 fireworks related injuries in the US? On top of that, they can put you at risk for damaging your home or starting brush or forest fires.
We want you to have a good time this holiday weekend, but we also want you to be safe! That’s why we looked to the National Council on Fireworks Safety to provide some good tips to stay safe this 4th of July!
1) Use fireworks outdoors only
2) Obey local laws – many communities down allow you to shoot fireworks!
3) Watch for burn/fire bans in your area!
4) Only use fireworks as intended
5) Alcohol and Fireworks DO NOT MIX.
6) Use common sense – stay a safe distance away from lit fireworks
Did you know, every year there are around 10,000 fireworks related injuries in the US? On top of that, they can put you at risk for damaging your home or starting brush or forest fires.