Okay, so it’s been hurricane season. The 2012 Atlantic and Caribbean hurricane season began on June 1 and ends November 30. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season kicked off May 15 and wraps up November 30.
So maybe we’re a little late to the party.
But according to FEMA, peak hurricane season is right around the corner: running from mid-August to October.
According to the National Hurricane Center, it’s nearly impossible to determine a storm’s approach any sooner than 5 or 7 days in advance.
If you had only 5 days warning, would you be ready?
Between 1970 and 1999, more people lost their lives from freshwater inland flooding associated with tropical cyclones than from any other weather hazard related to such storms. (https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes)
Protect yourself. Protect your family. Protect your home.
There is plenty you can do BEFORE a storm even hits. So next time you have a few hours on a Sunday, work on preparing your home for the risk of a hurricane. Here are some tips:
Before a Hurricane:
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
Know where you would go if a hurricane hit
Make a plan on how to evacuate. A downloadable Family Emergency Plan can be found here. Print it off and complete it.
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/clogged rain gutters
Reinforce 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 10th floor
As peak Hurricane season begins, make sure you are ready for possible storms. Your safety is our top priority.
Here are some additional resources we recommend:
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) has a fantastic site on disaster preparedness. They have great resources, checklists and plans for preparing your home and family for a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Survival Initiative offers another great checklist for your safety kits, and most of their forms are downloadable! Check them out here.
Like everyone else across the country, the violent deaths of 12 innocent people in an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre left me heartbroken.
My mind flooded with questions and my heart ached for every victim, every family member, every friend and every member of the Aurora community that was touched by this devastating tragedy.
I was inspired and heartbroken as, one by one, each victim’s story came out. The six-year-old who was out seeing a movie with her babysitter. The two young men who gave their lives to save their girlfriends. The heroic members of the Armed Services who died in that theatre.
The list goes on.
And now, a week out, the question remains: How do we go on?How do we heal?
This question is particularly true of a few certain groups of Heroes. Heroes whose role in responding to tragedies like Aurora story is often overlooked.
The police officers who responded to the horrific scene that night. Who had to put their personal feelings aside to professionally process the scene and eliminate any existing threats- including the booby trapped apartment of the suspect. More Here.
The paramedics who treated and transported victims. Who held it together despite seeing the carnage up close, triaged the 58 innocent people with injuries, and comforted them on their way to hospitals. More here.
The nurses and medical staff who continue to heal survivors. Who tirelessly support their patients down a long and tough road to recovery, answer the tough questions, and experience firsthand the pain, sorrow, and confusion of the victims and their families. More here.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like responding to that scene. The horror of the loss. The pain of injured. The questions of the survivors. So I looked to some of my favorite Police Officer, EMT and Nurse bloggers. I asked them what advice or words of support they could offer to their professional colleagues in this time of processing and healing.
In three posts below, I have posted some fantastic responses, thoughts, and resources from Police Blogger John Marx of Cops Alive, EMT Blogger Captain Morse of Rescuing Providence, and Nurse Blogger Keith Carlson of Digital Doorway.
The recent destructive tornado outbreaks in the US caused widespread damage in several states. In the aftermath, once thing most people don’t consider is threats to their financial well-being from identity thieves and fraudsters.
Fortunately, customers of California Casualty have identity theft protection from Identity Theft 911 included in their policies. This benefit can help protect your identity, while also providing guidance and help in recovering your financial peace of mind.
If your home is hit by a disaster such as a tornado or hurricane, we recommend taking the following steps as soon as possible to protect yourself from ID thieves:
Protect important information and documents. Whether you’re in a shelter, staying with friends and family, never let these items leave your sight. They are the keys to your identity-and you will need this information to prove who you are.
Ask the post office to hold your mail until you return home. This will keep thieves from finding sensitive materials that are left in your mailbox.
During disasters criminals often prey on the emotions of citizens. Verify against scam charities by using Give.org or CharityNavigator.org.
If you have any reason to believe that your personal information may have been exposed or is at risk, please contact our customer service line at 1-800-800-9410 if you’re a CalCas customer and we’ll put you in touch with IDT911.
In many areas of the country, inclement weather can occur year-round. Regardless of where and when you drive, heed these safety precautions for bad weather driving!
Slow down. Put extra distance between your vehicle and the cars ahead of you.
Wear your seat belt at all times and make sure all children ages 12 and under are seated in the back seat.
Keep your headlights, taillights and windshield clean, and your wipers in good condition.
Keep your headlights on while driving. Don’t use your brights because snow and fog can reflect back into your eyes.
In an emergency situation, don’t slam on the brakes. The wheels could lock, causing you to skid.
If your car does start to slide on a frosty road, turn your wheels into the direction of the slide, and then straighten out.
Be extra cautious when driving over bridges and dips in the road. They could present dangerous “black ice” driving conditions.
In many areas, the weather has been pretty good so far this year. But, this week started a flurry (pun intended) of winter weather, and I thought it would be a good time to recap some important safety tips for cold weather!
What to do when your pipes freeze – It happens to the best of us (or, at least, it happened to me!). A quick guide to getting your pipes thawed without flooding your house.
Carbon monoxide safety – Firing up your heaters can lead to hidden dangers. Here are some tips for CO prevention.
Driving Safety in Snow and Ice – When the snow and ice come down, the roads get slippery. Here are some tips for making that commute safely.
Along with hay rides, cooling temperatures, and brilliant foliage, Fall can bring some unexpected dangers to your commute. In late October and November, states across the nation see the fall mating season for white-tailed deer begin.
With this comes significant danger to drivers. During this time, deer become very active and unpredictable, covering large areas in search of a mate. A result of this is that drivers will often see groups of deer crossing roads.
This generates tens of thousands of deer-vehicle crashes every year, resulting in millions of dollars in damage. To help prevent this happening to you, please review the tips below:
If you spot a deer, slow down and pay attention to possible sudden movement. If the deer doesn’t move, don’t go around it. Wait for the deer to pass and the road is clear.
Pay attention to “Deer Crossing” signs. They are there for a reason. Slow down when traveling through areas known to have a high concentration of deer so you will have ample time to stop if necessary.
If you are traveling after dark, use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic. High beams will be reflected by the eyes of deer on or near roads.
If you see one deer, be on guard: others may be in the area. Deer typically move in family groups at this time of year and cross roads single-file.
Don’t tailgate. Remember: the driver in front of you might have to stop suddenly to avoid hitting a deer.
Always wear a seatbelt, as required by law. Drive at a safe and sensible speed, taking into account weather, available lighting, traffic, curves and other road conditions.
If a collision appears inevitable, do not swerve to avoid impact. The deer may counter-maneuver suddenly. Brake firmly, but stay in your lane. Collisions are more likely to become fatal when a driver swerves to avoid a deer and instead collides with oncoming traffic or a fixed structure along the road.
Report any deer-vehicle collision to a local law enforcement agency immediately.
In many areas of the country, inclement weather can occur year-round. Regardless of where and when you drive, heed these safety precautions for bad weather driving!
Along with hay rides, cooling temperatures, and brilliant foliage, Fall can bring some unexpected dangers to your commute. In late October and November, states across the nation see the fall mating season for white-tailed deer begin.