Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Safe in a Thunderstorm

Each year, the United States averages 300 lightning deaths and 80 injures. All thunderstorms produce lightning and have the potential for danger. Those dangers can include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, wildfires and flash flooding, which is responsible for more fatalities than any other thunderstorm-related hazard.

Lightning's risk to individuals and property is increased because of its unpredictability, which emphasizes the importance of preparedness. It often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

In a Thunderstorm:

• Stay inside a building or hard-top vehicle.
• Avoid showering, bathing, and using a phone that has a cord, except in an emergency.
• Unplug appliances, televisions and computers.
• If outside, take cover immediately but never stand under a tall tree in an open area.
• Don't touch metal, electrical equipment, telephones, bathtubs, water faucets or sinks.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Prepared to Evacuate with a Go Bag

In the event that you need to evacuate your home due to fire, flooding or another emergency, prepare a Go Bag with some essential items. Many of these materials can be found at a dollar store:

• Copies of your important documents, such as insurance cards, photo IDs, birth certificates, deeds, and proof of address. Keep these in a waterproof and portable container.
• Extra set of car and house keys
• Credit and ATM cards
• Cash, especially in small bills (ones, fives and tens)
• Bottled water and ready-to-eat foods, such as energy or granola bars
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (You can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries.)
• Medication. Be sure to refill medications before they expire. Keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Also keep copies of all prescriptions, and your doctors’ and pharmacist’s contact information.
• First-aid kit
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight raingear, and a mylar blanket
• Contact and meeting place information for the members of your household
• A small regional map
• Personal care items: hand sanitizer, feminine products, toothbrush and toothpaste, toilet paper and wipes
• Special care items, including child care supplies, items for special needs and pet supplies.

For more information on how to prepare for emergencies, visit www.phila.gov/ready.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Prepared for Coastal or Flash Flooding

• Know your area's flood risk. To estimate your flood risk and flood insurance premium, visit http://www.floodsmart.gov/.
• Make an itemized list of personal property, including furnishings, clothing, and valuables.
• Fill out an Emergency Plan Card, which will contain important contacts for you and your family in the event of any emergency.
• Prepare a Go Bag that you can grab in case you need to leave your home in a hurry.
• Learn the safest route from your home or place of business to safe, high ground in case you have to evacuate. This should be part of your Household Emergency Plan.
• If you live in a flood-susceptible area, keep materials, such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber, on hand to help protect your home.
• Consider getting flood insurance. Protection against loss due to floods is not covered under a homeowner's policy. Flood insurance is offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Emergency Preparedness and SKYWARN Spotters Training

Join Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Services for free Emergency Preparedness and SKYWARN Weather Spotter Training on either of the following dates:

Saturday, March 28

9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The seminars will be held at the Philadelphia Fire Academy, located at 5200 Pennypack Street, Philadelphia, PA.

Reservations required
R.S.V.P. by March 25 or by April 15 to edward.vassallo@phila.gov or 215-683-3250.

For more information, visit www.phila.gov/ready.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Safe in Severe Weather

All thunderstorms produce lightning. Even if the lightning can not be seen, no place outside is safe near thunderstorms.

Use the 30-30 rule. If there are 30 seconds or less between lightning and thunder, go to a safer place. Wait at least 30 minutes from hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location.

Lightning first aid: Call 911, Perform CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if possible, and don’t worry about touching the lightning victim he or she cannot electrocute you.

Flash flood: Never drive through standing water. It could be very deep and fast moving and a deadly combination for ANY vehicle. Flash floods are the #1 cause of severe weather related death in the US.

Tornado: If a tornado touchs down near your area, get to a safe location either underground or in the center of a building, a closet, or bathroom without windows. Use coats to shelter you from debris. If driving, do not attempt to outrun the tornado...find a ditch or low lying area and lay flat and face down. Cover your head to shield yourself from debris.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks

Daylight savings time begins on March 8 and the Office of Emergency Management reminds the public to refresh emergency supplies when changing your clocks with its “Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks” campaign.

“Make sure you have all of the necessary emergency supplies in your kits, and that the food and batteries for radios and flashlights haven’t expired,” said Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management MaryAnn E. Tierney. “If you haven’t put together a family preparedness kit or a Go Bag of emergency supplies if you need to evacuate, do so now. The time to start planning for an emergency is not in the middle of one.”

Be sure that you have at least a three-day supply of bottled water, non-perishable foods and essential medications set aside for each member of your family. Remember to include supplies for your pets. And as always, don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms! As we prepare for the arrival of spring, make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for emergencies.

To learn how to be prepared for any kind of an emergency and for a list of supplies for your family preparedness kit and Go Bag, visit the What to Have In Your Home and In Your Hand sections of the website, www.phila.gov/ready.

Snow Emergency: Emergency Operations Center Activated

Current forecasts predict 8-12 inches of snow accumulation, beginning Sunday night, March 1, and ending around noon on Monday, March 2.

All vehicles parked on Snow Emergency Routes must be removed. Any vehicle remaining on a Snow Emergency Route will be ticketed and towed starting at 8:30 p.m. Click here for a list of snow emergency routes. For a map of the routes, click here. If your car is towed, call 215-686-SNOW for its location. Do NOT call 911.

Trash and recycling collection will be suspended and collections for the week will be delayed a day.

In addition, the City declared a Code Blue to provide support to the homeless. If you see a homeless person in need of assistance, please call 215-232-1984.

Travel will be difficult in the region from this evening into Monday. Residents are advised to use public transportation. For more information, click here to view the full advisory.

For further emergency preparedness information, visit www.phila.gov/ready

For live updates from Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/philaoem

For updated forecasts and storm information, visit www.weather.gov/phi