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

Our main theme for today’s 101 Days of Summer Safety is Storm Preparedness. This is especially important in light of the potential for significant storms this weekend (see graphic below).

Please take a moment to review the important information, via our partners in safety at the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, on what to do before, during and after a Hurricane or summer storm.

Also take a moment to sign up for Alert Montgomery, Montgomery County’s emergency warning system, to receive important notifications of weather watches, warnings and other emergency information. Go here to sign up: https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov

Storm Preparedness Tips:

Before a Storm

·         Build an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes such items as non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries.

·         Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.

·         Continually monitor the media (radio, TV or internet) – Be aware of storms which could impact your area.

·         Know how you will be warned in an emergency…Alert Montgomery, (NOAA Weather radios with a tone alert are a good option)

·         Ensure your home is ready. Bring in or secure outdoor items that could become projectiles in high wind.

·         Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the door only when necessary and close quickly. Frozen food in a half-full freezer should remain safe for up to 24 hours, and in a full freezer, up to 48 hours.

During a Storm

·         Follow instructions and emergency advice from County officials or heed shelter or evacuation requests made through announcements on radio/television.

·         Keep an eye on the sky. 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 be struck by lightning.

·         Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you. Tornado danger signs include a dark, almost greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud or a loud roar, similar to a freight train.

·         Gather family members, bring pets indoors and have your emergency supply kit ready.

·         Close outside doors and window blinds, shades or curtains. Close all interior doors. Stay away from doors, windows and exterior walls. Stay in a shelter location (small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level) until the danger has passed.

·         During lightning, do not use wired telephones, touch electrical appliances or use running water. Cordless or cellular telephones are safe to use.

·         During a power outage use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns for light. Avoid using candles which pose a fire risk.

·         Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as personal cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill a bathtub or other large container with the water. This is particularly important for those whose water runs off of an electrical system.

·         If your residence could flood, store valuable and personal papers in a waterproof container.

·         Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet.

·         Stay indoors and limit travel to only absolutely necessary trips. Listen to radio/television for updates. Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road – you can become stranded or trapped.

After a Storm 

·         Stay off roads to allow emergency crews to clear roads and provide emergency assistance.

·         Help injured or trapped persons. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of death or further injury.

·         Use the telephone only for emergencies.

·         Use care around downed power lines. Assume a downed wire is a live wire.

·         Watch out for overhead hazards such as broken tree limbs, wires and other debris.

·         Avoid walking into flood waters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewerage, contain downed power lines or animals.

·         Look for hazards such as broken/leaking gas lines, damaged sewage systems, flooded electrical circuits, submerged appliances and structural damage. Leave the area if you smell gas or chemical fumes.

·         Clean everything that gets wet. For food, medicines and cosmetics; when in doubt, throw it out.

·         Make sure backup generators are well ventilated. Never use grills, generators or camping stoves indoors.

·         Call 311 (or 240-777-0311 from a cell phone or from a location outside of Montgomery County) to report downed trees on public property and for help with County services, or go to mc311.com. If wires are involved with the downed tree, if anyone is trapped, or the tree is blocking a roadway, call 9-1-1.

Remember to follow our 101 Days of Summer Safety on our various social media platforms using #mcfrsSOS

Chief Goldstein Provides An Update On MCFRS Operations

This video update was done at 2055 hours on 10/29/2012

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

Many Roads in Montgomery County Susceptible to Flooding so Consider Alternate Routes Beforehand!

Please exercise caution and DO NOT hit the roadways unless you absolutely have too.  While there may still be a brief window this morning, flooding is a possibility.

  

Flash floods more often occur in mountain streams, hilly areas or low-lying areas.  But they do happen in urban and suburban areas like Montgomery County, as well.  Flash floods can occur even though it's not raining where you are.  It may be raining hard farther upstream and raining so hard that the water can not be absorbed into the ground.

  

Safety Tips: 

If a flash flood warning is issued, act immediately.  Don't wait for high water to dictate your course of action. 

Know your location when you are driving.  If you needed rescue, would you be able to direct emergency crews to your location?  Distracted driving can lead to a situation where you are stranded and unable to direct emergency crews to you.  Be alert! 

  

Never drive through a flooded road or bridge.  Turn Around - Don’t Drown and try an alternate route!  In many cases, it takes far less than a foot of water to incapacitate a vehicle.  It may stall, leaving you stranded, and depending on the level of water, you may not be able to open a vehicle door.  Do not underestimate the power of moving water. 

  

Watch for flooding at bridges and dips in the road.  Never drive where water is over bridges or roads. Turn around - Don’t Drown!  The bridges or the road could suddenly be washed out. If you're driving at night be especially careful.  Often visibility is limited due to wind and rain. 

  

Often what you can't see below the surface of the water is far more dangerous than the high levels of that water.  Remember that rocks, tree limbs and other debris can be caught in moving water and can be dangerous if you are forced to walk, wade or swim through flood waters. 

  

If you have to walk or wade through flood water, use a stick to poke the ground in front of you with each step.  It can help you determine water levels, the bottom surface and the safest possible way to get to higher ground. 

  

Remember that flash floods can come without warning, and sometimes without weather.  Be alert and heed all warnings and recommendations from officials. From FEMA's website, some further information about driving through flooded roadways:

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.  
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and pick-ups

TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN and try an alternate route!

ROADS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUBJECT TO PERIODIC FLOODING: 

DOWN-COUNTY AREAS

MD 29 (Columbia Pike) at Paint Branch - N. of White Oak 
MD 185 (Conn. Ave) at Rock Creek - S. of Kensington 

MD 190 (River Road) at Cabin John Creek - Potomac 

MD 193 (Univ. Blvd) at Sligo Creek - Wheaton 

MD 586 (Viers Mill Rd) at Rock Creek - S. of Twinbrook Pkwy. 

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park - Kensington-Chevy Chase 

Sligo Creek Pkwy - Silver Spring-Takoma Park 

UP-COUNTY AREAS 

MD 97 (Georgia Ave) at Reddy Branch - N. of Brookeville 

MD 124 (Woodfield Rd) at Goshen Branch and at Gr. Seneca Creek - N. of Brink Rd. 

MD 117 (Clopper Rd) at Gr. Seneca Creek - W. of Gaithersburg 

MD 117 (Clopper Rd) at Little Seneca Creek - E. of Boyds 

MD 355 (Frederick Rd) at Little Seneca Creek - W. of Brink 

MD 121 (Clarksburg Rd) near Little Seneca Lake - N. of Boyds 

MD 118 (Germantown Rd) at Great Seneca Creek - S. of Germantown 

River Rd and Berryville Rd at Seneca Creek - Seneca 

Blunt Road at Great Seneca Creek - S. of Brink Rd. 

Davis Mill Rd at Great Seneca Creek - N. of Gaithersburg 

Brighton Dam Rd at Hawlings River - NE of Brookeville 

Goldmine Rd at Hawlings River - E of Olney 

Zion Rd at Hawlings River - E. of Laytonsville 

Hoyles Mill Rd at ford of Little Seneca Creek - Germantown, west of soccer complex 

Loghouse Rd at Magruder Branch - S. of Damascus 

Elton Farm Rd at Haights Branch - N. of Sunshine 

Howard Chapel Rd at Haights Branch - N. of Sunshine 

White’s Ferry Road and River Road - White’s Ferry 

MORE: http://www.scribd.com/doc/50454109/Street-Flooding-Hazards

As Hurricane Sandy approaches, some information you might find useful

As Hurricane Sandy approaches, some information you might find useful:

What's In Your Emergency Preparedness Kit? 

Severe Storm Potentially On The Way…..Are You Ready? 

Hurricane Sandy May Impact Region in Coming Days; Residents Can Take Steps Now to Prepare for Hurricanes and Other Emergencies

Hurricane Sandy Latest Track 

No Twitter? No Problem! You Can Still Get MCFRS Updates!

Hurricane Sandy May Impact Region in Coming Days; Residents Can Take Steps Now to Prepare for Hurricanes and Other Emergencies

There is a possibility that Hurricane Sandy may impact the Washington D.C. region in the days ahead. Should predictions show that the hurricane will hit our area, officials remind residents that they should prepare for the possibility of high winds, power outages and flooding. The hurricane season traditionally runs through November.

Anyone who has not already signed up for the County’s Alert Montgomery notification system is encouraged to do so by going to https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov and selecting the types of emergency alerts they are interested in receiving regarding weather, severe traffic, schools, park and government facilities, athletic fields and public events; along with the devices they would like the messages sent to (cell phones, text pagers, wireless PDAs, home and work emails).

During severe weather and all other times, residents are reminded to call 911 only in emergencies that threaten life or property, which include any type of fire or serious medical condition, when there is fear for personal safety or the safety of others, or during a crime in progress. Calling 911 for the wrong reason or calling the number inadvertently may keep someone else from getting the help they need. Residents SHOULD NOT call 911 to ask for directions; check on power, phone, or cable outages; inquire about road or weather conditions; check on the status of school closings; ask for information about public services; or to report situations that are not emergencies. If 911 is called by mistake, the caller should stay on the line until the call taker can confirm that the caller does not require emergency assistance.

Whenever a hurricane threatens a region, a hurricane watch will be issued within 24-36 hours. A hurricane warning will be issued if hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours or less. Hurricane conditions include winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or greater, and/or dangerously high tides and waves. Actions to protect life and property should begin whenever a warning is issued.

Below are some more preparedness tips for hurricanes and other storms:

Before a Storm

• Put copies of important documents in a safe place, preferably a waterproof container. Important documents can include passports, birth certificates, insurance policies or anything else that might be needed immediately or cannot be easily replaced.

• Have enough cash for a few days – ATM’s may not work during power outages and stores might not be able to take debit and credit cards.

• Make sure vehicle gas tanks are full.

• Secure or bring inside exterior items that might become windborne, such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools.

• Fill prescriptions that might be needed and stock up on any necessary medical supplies.

• Keep flashlights and battery-powered radios with extra batteries on hand, along with a basic first aid kit, emergency food and water, and a non-electric can opener. Have enough non-perishable food and water for at least 72 hours.

• Listen to the radio or television for hurricane progress reports.

• Clean out gutters.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the doors only when necessary and close quickly.

• Refrain from putting out trash cans the night before the regular pickup.

During a Storm

• Avoid using candles for lighting. Use a battery-powered flashlight.

• 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.

• If flooding occurs, turn off electricity at the main breaker.

• During a power outage, turn off major appliances. This will minimize losing power again through a power surge and protect the equipment when power returns.

• Do not go outside. Flying debris from high winds is a danger. As the eye of the storm passes, there will be a short period of calm followed by rapid wind speed increases to hurricane force that will come from the opposite direction.

After a Storm

• Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in or near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines.

• USE PHONES ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES. Call 911 only for life-threatening situations.

• Call police or utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains or overturned gas tanks.

• Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. Do not attempt to drive on a flooded road –motorists can be stranded or trapped. The depth of the water and the condition of the road is not always obvious.

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

• For downed trees on public property, 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 go to www.mc311.com at any time to report the problem. If live wires are involved, the tree is blocking a roadway, the tree is on a structure, or if persons are trapped under the fallen tree, call 911.

• Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The County’s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check a business’ complaint record. Consumer Protection can be reached at 240-777-3636 or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer.

• For non-emergency police assistance, call the police non-emergency number, 301-279-8000.

• If case of a power outage, residents are urged to take steps to ensure that food left in the refrigerator and freezer is safe. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service, meat, poultry, fish and eggs should be refrigerated at 40° F and frozen food at or below 0° F, which may be difficult with a prolonged power outage. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. A refrigerator will only keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened. Food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, soft cheeses, butter and leftover cooked meats, casseroles and pizza should be thrown out if they have been held above 40° F for over two hours. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. To be sure a particular food is cold enough; take its temperature with a food thermometer. Never taste food to determine its safety.

• Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.

Important Utility Numbers:

• Pepco: 1-877-737-2662

• Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E): 1-877-778-2222 or 1-800-685-0123

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

• Washington Gas: 800-752-7520

• WSSC: 1-800-828-4002

**From Press Release on www.montgomerycountymd.gov

Hurricane Sandy Latest Track

An interesting tracking tool.

Severe Storm Potentially On The Way…..Are You Ready?

Hopefully most of you have been paying attention the last day or so to Hurricane Sandy and her potential track over the next several days.  As of this moment, indications are Sandy will have a potentially historic impact from our area up to New England starting sometime late Sunday through as late as Tuesday.

I encourage everyone to keep a close eye on this as it is an ever changing event.  A good source of info, beside your local news coverage, is the National Hurricane Center web site.  Take a moment to look around and keep track of this storm.

Also highly encouraged is to make sure your Emergency Preparedness plans are ready and up to date.  Now is a good time to check and make sure you have all the tools needed to take care of you and loved ones – especially if your electric power service is knocked out for a few days.

Below, please find some links that I hope you might find useful.  I believe it will be well worth your time to go through each to learn more and possibly look at ways you can better prepare for this, or other like, events.

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

National Preparedness Month – Sign Up For Alert Montgomery

Prepare, Plan and Stay Informed – Ready.Gov

After The Storm Tips

Are you prepared for a disaster?  From Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Again, stay informed and be ready!  We will have more information on this site as appropriate.

Stay Safe,

Bill