Videos, Photo and Sound Bite From Thursday's Press Event

Yesterday, representatives from MCFRS, Prince Georges County Fire & EMS (PGFD) and PEPCO announced the generous donation of One-Thousand Smoke Alarms each to both MCFRS and PGFD. The alarms are used by both departments to assist in their effort to make sure every home in each jurisdiction has working smoke alarms.

The alarms will be provided for those who are in need and can not likewise afford one.

As well, MCFRS uses many of the alarms for our senior outreach partnerships and programs.

 

Hurricane Survival Guide

The most important thing you can do is be informed and prepared 

Rockville - - - Area residents are encouraged to be prepared for the possible impacts of severe weather as Hurricane Irene heads north and expected to hit the region this weekend. Hurricane Irene is the first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and officials are monitoring its projected path closely.

As with any weather-related emergency, residents are urged to take steps now to ensure that their homes and families are prepared for a possible close encounter with Hurricane Irene. Hurricane hazards may come in many forms including lightening, flooding, storm surge, tornadoes, high winds, etc. With the month of September designated as “National Preparedness Month,” it’s the perfect time to review and restock your Emergency Kit supplies and ensure everyone is familiar with your family’s Emergency Communication Plan.

Before the storm
 
- Check and restock your emergency supply kit with items such as non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries.   

- Understand what the various weather advisories mean and keep apprised of conditions outside.

- Know your local radio stations for weather updates and keep a battery-powered radio on hand for changing conditions.

- Keep the lines of communication open. Charge cell phones and wireless laptop computers in advance.

- Have flashlights on hand, along with fresh batteries.

- Update your list of emergency phone numbers and include folks that may require special care, such as seniors and people with disabilities.

- Prepare your home - bring in any outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys, wind chimes and garden tools that you can; anchor objects that cannot be brought inside but that could be wind-tossed.

- Check all smoke alarms. Having a working smoke alarm is vital to your safety year-round and can immediately alert you to potential danger 24/7. 

- Make sure your gas tank is filled.

- Have a plan for your pets. Have adequate food and water and use caution when letting your pet outdoors after the storm. Downed power lines, glass and other hazards could present real dangers to your pet.

During the storm

- Avoid using candles for lighting - flashlights are the best and safest choice during a power outage.

- Never use a candle when fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern, since the
candle flame can ignite fumes from the fuel.

- Try to stay in an interior room or away from windows.

- Stay calm and do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

- Unplug electronics. During a power outage, turn off as many appliances as possible. This will minimize losing power again through a power surge and protect the equipment and your home when power returns.

- Use care with generators. Carbon monoxide is a quick killer. If you have a generator, make sure you also have a carbon monoxide detector, either battery operated or with a battery backup. Never operate a generator inside a house, garage, shed or other enclosed area, even if windows and doors are open. Do not use it outside near open windows or doors.

- Do not go outside. Flying debris, downed wires from high winds are a real danger.

After the storm

1. Listen to the authorities. Remain indoors until an official "all clear" is issued.

2. Use extreme caution when cleaning up storm damage on your property. Downed or damaged power lines can send electrical currents through tree branches and metal fences, so survey the area carefully - especially if you'll be using a pruning pole, ax or chainsaw.

3. For downed trees on public property, Montgomery County residents should call -311 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays (or 240-777-0311 from outside the county or from a cell phone), or file a report at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/311. If live wires are involved, the tree is blocking a roadway, the tree is on a structure or if anyone is trapped under a fallen tree, call 911.

4. Know your limits. Many storm-related deaths and injuries involve existing health problems exacerbated by the physical demands of cleanup activities.

5. Drive with caution. Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. Do not attempt to drive on a flooded road, which could lead to becoming stranded or trapped because the depth of the water and the condition of the road is not always obvious.

6. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers, downed wires and other hazards.

7. Call 911 for life threatening situations only.

8. Call authorities to report any hazards such as downed power lines, leaking gas mains, broken water mains and overturned gas tanks.

9.  Watch what you eat. If power was off during the storm, check refrigerated and frozen foods for spoilage. When in doubt, throw it out.

10. Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. Never attempt to drive on a flooded road.   

11.  Replenish supplies used from your emergency kit as soon as possible, you might need it again next week.

12. Check on your neighbors - especially the elderly, those with special needs or the disabled.

Important utility company numbers:

PEPCO:  To report an outage: 877-PEPCO-62 (877-737-2662) and press 1
                To report a downed wire: 877-PEPCO-62 (877-737-2662) and press 2

BG & E: To report an outage: 877-778-2222
                To report a downed wire: 410-685-0123

Potomac Edison (Allegheny Power): 1-800-255-3443

Dominion Virginia Power: 1-866-366-4357

Washington Gas: 800-752-7520
WSSC: 1-800-828-4002

Sign up for AlertMontgomery

Be sure to sign up for “Alert Montgomery” at http://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov. Alert Montgomery can deliver important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to you. While signing up for Alert Montgomery is free of charge, your wireless carrier may charge you a fee to receive text messages. Check the website FAQ link and your wireless agreement to review your carrier’s pricing information.    

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News Advisory - Power Restoration Tips

Power Restoration Tips

Smoke Alarm Donation: Story, Video, Photos, and Quotes From Today’s Press Conference

Today I had the distinct pleasure of attending a Press Conference, at our brand new Fire Station #34, at which Fire Chief Richard Bowers accepted a donation of two-thousand  smoke alarms from one of our partners in safety – PEPCO.  Also donated were special needs smoke alarms for those residents who are deaf or hard of hearing.  

I have posted a video below of the Chief and the Fire Fighters of Fire Station #34 accepting this generous donation from PEPCO representatives Ms. Kim Watson and Mr. Pete Pedersen.  Below the video you will also find quotes.

These alarms will be critical in our on going “Safety in Our Neighborhood” door-to-door safety and injury prevention campaign. Every Saturday MCFRS Fire Fighters canvas neighborhoods handing out safety information as well as offering to check smoke alarms to ensure they are working. If we find the alarms are not working, we will then install a fresh battery or new alarm before leaving as working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire.

THANK YOU PEPCO!



Link to Video if above does not work: http://twitvid.com/MTVNT

Quotes

From Chief Richard Bowers:

“Pepco’s Emergency Services Partnership Program has donated smoke alarms to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service for several years as part of their long-standing commitment to public safety.” “Based on today’s challenging budgets, this donation comes at a critical time and will fill an important need.”

“We are proud to partner with PEPCO and their generous donation will continue to have significant impact in keeping residents safe and saving lives.”

From Kim Watson, PEPCO VP of Governmental Affairs:
“All of us at Pepco are very proud of the excellent working relationship we have with our first responders throughout the service territory. These smoke alarms are just another way for Pepco to support the life saving work that the dedicated men and women of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service perform everyday.”

Latest Update on Conditions

* All Montgomery County Recreation facilities are closed today except for the Upper County Neighborhood, Germantown, East County Neighborhood and Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Centers and the Germantown Indoor and Olney Swim Centers. All other Montgomery County Recreation sites are closed, including the main administrative office.
* All Montgomery County Recreation summer camps, summer fun centers and Recreation summer classes are cancelled for today

* Montgomery College Rockville campus will be closed today. Takoma Park and Germantown campuses will be open.

* All activities in Montgomery County Public School buildings are canceled on Monday, July 26, due to widespread power outages. This includes all academic programs, summer camps, recreation programs and summer meals.

* Montgomery County’s Permitting Services will be closed to the public (255 Rockville Pike facility).

* About 187,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County remain without power.

* 270 County traffic signals remain without power.

* Don't travel if you don't need to.

* Treat all dark intersections as four-way stops. Proceed cautiously.

* A shelter is open at the East County Recreation Center located at 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.

* Mandatory water restrictions remain in effect for all Montgomery County and Prince Georges County residents on public water systems until water supplies are recharged. This includes Rockville residents. Residents on private wells are unaffected by the mandatory water restrictions.

* Residents and businesses are urged to use water only for essential indoor uses so sufficient water will be available for hospitals, emergency services and fire fighting.

* The County’s 311 call center has been activated and is available for non-emergency calls.

* To report “hot” wires or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 9-1-1.

* Residents can report downed trees in the public right-of-way by calling 3-1-1 from within Montgomery County or 240-777-0311 from outside the County.

* Residents are urged to check on their neighbors, particularly seniors or those with special needs.

* Pepco has indicated this will be a "multi-day restoration."

Check www.montgomerycountymd.gov for updated information on Montgomery County facilities, services, and programs.

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SUMMER STORM ALERT UPDATE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY

A major storm has knocked out power to more than 200,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County and left nearly a third of the County’s traffic signals without power. A number of trees throughout the County are down, some closing roads. Pepco has indicated this will be a "multi-day restoration."

Montgomery County and the American Red Cross will open a shelter at midnight tonight at the East County Recreation Center located at 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.

Mandatory water restrictions have been imposed for all Montgomery County and Prince Georges County residents on public water systems because of a power outage at the Potomac Pumping Station, which provides about two-thirds of Montgomery County’s water. Residents and businesses are urged to use water only for essential indoor uses so sufficient water will be available for hospitals, emergency services and fire fighting.

Water customers should:

• Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools
• Use water only as necessary – i.e., shorter showers and turn off faucets after washing hands  
• Limit toilet flushings (do not flush after every use)
• Limit washing machine and dishwasher use (wash full loads only)

The County has activated its 311 call center for non-emergency calls. Residents can report downed trees in the public right-of-way.

All Montgomery County Parks and Recreation programs are cancelled for tomorrow, Monday, July 26, including, classes, camps and activities.

• For emergency assistance, call 911.
• Don't travel if you don't need to. Treat all dark intersections as four-way stops. Proceed cautiously.
• Call Pepco at 1-877-737-2662 to report outages.

Ride On will operate on Monday, as will trash and recycling collections. These operations could be delayed due to traffic signal power outages.

Check www.montgomerycountymd.gov for updated information on Montgomery County facilities, services, and programs.

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