More needed rain is forecasted, but some storms may cause serious and dangerous problems. Here are a few tips for preparing for storms, and weathering them safely.
- Always keep a battery-powered radio in your home so that you can tune to radio stations if you lose electricity. Check or change the batteries frequently.
- Keep a flashlight in an easily accessible spot on every floor of your home. Check the batteries monthly, and replace them as needed.
- As a safety precaution before leaving the house on vacation, unplug all electrical appliances except for those lights connected to automatic timers.
- Secure/remove outdoor patio furniture and yard accessories to keep them from blowing away in a violent wind.
- Don’t go out unless you have to; however, if flooding threatens, seek high ground, and follow the instructions of your local firefighters – law enforcement personnel.
- Keep an eye on large trees — even healthy ones — that could damage your house if felled in a storm. Cut them back, if necessary.
Don’t forget the car… Have your brakes, tires and windshield wipers checked by your mechanic. Keep it slow in the rain and give plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you!
Contact your local Fire Dept. and visit: fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_be_prepared.php for additional storm preparedness tips.
Now you can regard gathering clouds with a little less trepidation.
Be Safe!
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
