All About Derechos

The past several weeks have seen a good number of significant storms that have produced high winds along with associated damage. Today's forecast includes the potential for significant storms that may be severe and could bring damaging winds, hail and the possibility of flooding.

From NOAA vis http://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Usually when the potential for damaging winds are brought up, residents across the metro area think back to almost four years ago when the region was hit by the Ohio Valley/Mid-Atlantic Derecho. This storm brought widespread damage and disruption that took several days to recover from.

With all of the above in mind, we thought a good topic for today's 101 Days of Summer Safety would be to learn more about Derechos. Also timely as Derechos in the United States are most common in the late spring and summer (May through August), with more than 60% occurring May through July.

Since we are no experts in the field, we highly recommend that you go to the experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Go here to learn All About Derechos.

The safety tips and preparation are the same as for any significant weather event. Be prepared and be aware. Please take a moment to review some important related tips below.

It’s Hurricane And Summer Storm Season! Are You Ready?

Don’t Get Blown Away By Wind Related Issues

Get Emergency Alerts. Get Alert Montgomery

TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN and Try an Alternate Route! List of Roads That Flood

Lightning!

Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes! Lightning occurs with ALL thunderstorms. Nationally, lightning kills an average of 93 people and injures 300 each year. Causes several hundred million dollars in damage to property and forests annually.

* Signs of a storm: Look for darkening skies, flashes of light or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightening. Go to safe shelter immediately. Find shelter in a building or car. Keep car windows closed and avoid convertibles.

* Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances; avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. (Leaving electrical lights on, however, does not increase the chances of your home being struck by lightning.)

* Don't take a bath or shower.

* Turn off the air conditioner. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor and damage the air conditioner!

* Draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break due to objects being blown by the wind of a storm, then the shades will prevent glass from shattering into your home.

If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, you must act immediately:

* If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees.

* If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter right away!

* If you can go to a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles or metal objects. Make sure
the place you pick is not subject to flooding.

* Become a very small target! Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with
your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible.

* Do not lie flat on the ground - this will make you a larger target!


**Tips courtesy of FEMA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Lightning

Some good information from our partners in safety at the National Fire Protection Association. 

-Bill D

Fires started by lightning peak in the summer months and in the late afternoon and early evening.

Facts & figures

• During 2004-2008, U.S.fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 24,600 fires started by lightning. These fires caused annual averages of 12 civilian deaths, 47 civilian injuries, and $407 million in direct property damage.
• More than half of fires caused by lightning occur outdoors. Deaths and injuries from lightning fires is small, but the dollar loss is more than $400 million per year.
• In 2004-2008, only 18% of reported lightning fires occurred in homes, but these accounted for 88% of the civilian deaths, 77% of the associated injuries and 70% of the property damage.

Source: NFPA's "Lightning Fires and Lightning Strikes" report by Ben Evarts, December 2010

Video: NFPA's Lisa Braxton says following some simple safety tips can greatly reduce the risk of being struck by lightning.

Storm Tips and Social Media Update

Montgomery County fire officials are providing the following tips and are asking residents to plan ahead, be ready and be safe:  

Stay informed by monitoring TV news, radio, the National Weather Service and the internet as storm information is updated throughout the day that may affect you and your family.

Sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive text alerts and emergency information as Montgomery County Fire and Rescue social media platforms will be operating at various points throughout the storm however will not

be a 24-hour source of timely EMERGENCY information.

For this weather event on Twitter, use the hashtag #mocostorm

The primary social media platforms used will be:

• Fire & Rescue Blog
• Follow Fire & Rescue on Twitter
• Like Fire & Rescue on Facebook

Safety Tips

• Ensure your cell phones, laptops, tablets and other important devices are fully charged BEFORE the storm.
• Make sure you secure, or bring inside, any loose items that could become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
• Stay prepared by getting your emergency preparedness kit out and having a ready supply of essential items (food, water, batteries, flashlights, battery-operated radio, blankets, etc.).
• It’s a great time to make sure the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm are fresh. Test all smoke alarms to ensure they are working.
• If possible, stay off the roads and heed the advice of local officials. These are serious conditions that are often underestimated and can make driving, and even walking, very hazardous.  Occupants of cars and trucks also are vulnerable to being hit by falling trees and utility poles. Further, high profile vehicles such as semi-trailer trucks, buses, and sport utility vehicles may be blown over. 
• Stay Inside and away from windows.  Go to a basement if you have one.
• Listen to the authorities. Remain indoors until an official "all clear" is issued.
• 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.  Use extreme caution around downed or damaged power lines. Do not remove fallen tree limbs or other debris from power lines, never drive over down lines and treat all wires – even those that are hanging or down – as if they are “live” (energized) and call 911 to report them.
• 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.
• Do NOT use candles for lighting. Using candles during a power outage poses an extreme risk of fire. Use flashlights or battery-powered lighting options and make sure you have a battery-operated radio to keep up-to-date.
• If you are using a generator, make sure it is in a well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of breathing harmful fumes. Never place a generator under an open window and follow all manufacturer instructions.
• Reach out to your neighbors who may need help, especially those that are elderly, disabled or infirmed.
• Know your limits. Many storm-related deaths and injuries involve existing health problems exacerbated by the physical demands of cleanup activities.
• 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.
• Treat all intersections where traffic lights are out as a four way stop.
• Please only call 911 for emergencies. Crews will be in high demand throughout the storm. If you do not have a life-threatening emergency, call 311 for assistance. 

Fire Chief Richard Bowers Comments on June 29 Storm Response

A recent video below from our Fire Chief re the big storm a few weeks ago that I thought might be of interest.

Stay Safe,
Bill D

After The Storm Tips

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.

It’s National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

Bet you did not know that National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is this week, April 22 to April 28. 

I am positive most of you have seen, read, or heard about several very significant severe weather situations that have devastated various parts of the US over the last couple of weeks.  While there was some very tragic, and mostly unavoidable, loss of life during a few of these storms, we also know many more were saved due to the fact they PREPARED for the emergency before it happened.  They knew what to do and how to do it!

We know that severe weather CAN happen here.  Please take a moment to go here, Severe Weather , to learn more.  Also, please watch the below video from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

Severe Storms

With the tragic events in Joplin, MO yesterday and our forecast for today, I thought it a good time to provide all of you some safety tips as well as a resource for now and in the future.

When a tornado warning is issued for your area:

• Seek shelter in a windowless interior room in the lowest level of the house. Go to the basement, if you have one. Stay away from windows.

• If you are caught in the open during a tornado, stay low and go to a drainage ditch or other low point on the ground. 

• If you are in your vehicle during a tornado, get out of the vehicle and go to a drainage ditch or other low point on the ground.  Do not try to outrun a tornado.

To prepare for a severe weather event, please go here: Severe Storms

A great resource from Weather.com: Severe Weather: Track the Storms

As always, be safe and be prepared!