Important Information

Each year fire claims the lives of 3,500 Americans, injures 20,000, and causes billions of dollars worth of damage. People living in rural areas are more than twice as likely to die in a fire than those living in mid-sized cities or suburban areas. The misuse of wood stoves, portable space heaters and kerosene heaters are especially common risks in rural areas.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes rural fire problems can be reduced by teaching people to recognize the hazards. By following some of the outlined precautionary steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a fire casualty.

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves cause over 4,000 residential fires every year. Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions. Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal. Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash. Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions. Be sure to keep combustible objects at least three feet away from your wood stove.

Electric Space Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

Kerosene Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and check with your local fire department on the legality of kerosene heater use in your community. Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace. These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Don't wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container outside the home.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

---

Cellular Telephones and their Role in Emergencies and Disasters

by ICE PACK.com Editorial Staff

The recent 5.8 magnitude earthquake here in central Virginia highlighted a technical communication phenomena where texting was possible but voice communication, normally associated with the use of cell phones, was not. Also, at least at our location, internet access was available to send emails, while voice was non-existent.  We noted in the days following the Mineral Virginia earthmover, there were organizations advocating victims involved in an emergency or disaster should send text messages for help…

While we whole heartedly embrace modern cell phone technology, we urge caution when educating the general public in using text messages during an emergency as if such technology never fails. This is akin to having strong indications you are having a heart attack and texting relatives or friends that you “think” you are having a heart attack, as opposed to calling 911 and getting the actual help you’ll need to save your life!

We are sure this was not the intent of the effort, but we tend to subscribe to the old adage “if common sense was common, everyone would have some!”

The cellular (or mobile) telephone is a hand-held wireless communications device that communicates with a network of ground-based cell towers. These towers can become inaccessible due to being overloaded by demand and are vulnerable to electric grid power outages and damages from any natural, man-made or war/terrorism related disaster. The use of the cellular telephone should certainly be a part of your overall emergency communications plan.

Remember, however, that every part of your emergency plan should adhere to the PACE principle; primary, alternate, contingency and emergency. This is especially true for communications! Whether designed for a home or business, or specific to yourself, family, business or staff, an emergency communications plan is based on a detailed list of points of contacts, procedures and rally points. In addition to the cell phone there are other means of communication which must be factored into your emergency communications plan. These include land line telephones, radio (amateur HAM, CB, FRS, UHF/VHF, etc.), cellular, internet email, satellite and visual signals.

When all means of communications are down, you can only depend on your plan, including (we hope) a provision for your contact list (friends, family, co-workers) to reach out and search for you. Of course this concept only works if you share your emergency communications plan. Here are some tips to make your cell phone a more reliable part of your emergency communications plan.

Cell Phone Emergency / Disaster Preparedness Action Items

1. Know how to use your cell phone. Is it just a basic cell phone? Does it have SMS text capability? Or is it a fully featured Smartphone with Internet access?
2. Program an emergency call list into your cell phone to include, yet not be limited to, friends, neighbors, police, fire, Rescue EMS, Poison Center, co-workers, schools, day care, etc.
3. If you have a Smartphone make sure you have “all” the contact information programmed in for family, staff, employee’s co-workers and first responders to include email addresses as well as phone numbers.
4. Insure that your cell phone battery is always fully charged.
5. Maintain a spare battery, 120vdc and 12vdc chargers in a heavy-duty Ziploc re-sealable plastic bag.
6. Maintain a back-up power source (e.g. AA lithium or solar charger) for your cell phone in the event you have no access to power sources.
7. Augment your Smartphone with a SPOT Connect satellite communication transmitter that will allow you to send your GPS location, pre-loaded messages (e.g. I’m OK), requests for assistance (e.g. I’m stranded), SOS (e.g. I’m in dire need of help) or a 41 character free-text SMS and/or email message.

---

Tangi Alert System

Just recently designed and added to our Emergency Management arsenal of communications assets, the Tangipahoa Alert System, which is a desktop wed-based system that is now being offeredto the public. This systemis free to the publicand staysactiveon your desktop serving as a weather radio and emergency alert system.  Not only is itdirectly linked to the National Weather Service and Amber Alert, Tangipahoa Emergency Management has the ability to send out its on alerts for such info as evacuations, shelteropenings, boil orders, hazardous material incidents, etc.. Thisapplication also gives you access to live radar both local and National and live RSS feeds to all local TV stations. With more and more people utilizing computers everyday, we are excited about this newest tool.