National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 27 - June 2)

Hurricane season begins June 1 and extends through November 30, as we saw with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, coastal storms can severely impact the City of Philadelphia.  

Take the time now during National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 27 - June 2) to get ready:

• Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify hurricane threats. 
• Hurricane Watch: Issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions in 24 to 36 hours.
• Hurricane Warning: Issued when dangerously high water and rough seas are expected in 24 hours or less.
• Develop a Household Emergency Plan and give copies to everyone in your household.
• Know your evacuation route and where you will go if you need to evacuate.
• Have a Go Bag of emergency supplies in case you need to evacuate.
• For those times when it's safe to stay home, have a Shelter-in-Place Kit.
• Keep a Health Information Card in your wallet with any medical conditions, allergies, medications and dosages.
• Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed to reduce wind debris.
• If you have a car, always keep the tank at least half full in case you need to evacuate.
• Find Out First with ReadyNotifyPA, the region's emergency text and email alert system. To sign up, click the link, text PHILA to 411911 or scan this code: (The text messages are free but your wireless provider may charge for text messaging.)

Hurricanes can also cause severe flooding. For information on flood insurance and preparedness visit the Flood Preparedness page.  

Be Ready for Excessive Heat & Severe Weather this Weekend

With temperatures rising to summer-like conditions this weekend, be ready for the hazards associated with summer weather. 

Excessive heat can cause health problems, especially for seniors, pregnant women, infants and children. For more heat risk factors, information on heat-related illness and stay cool tips, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management's Heat Preparedness page.

Summer weather can also bring with it Utility Disruptions and severe weather, such as Thunderstorms, Hurricanes and Tropical Storms. Check out each of these pages for preparedness and safety tips.

When It's Hot, Be a Buddy!
Check on elderly friends and neighbors, as well as those with medical conditions. For additional help, call the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging Senior Helpline at 215-765-9040.

Barbecue Grill Safety

Barbecue grills are regulated by the Philadelphia Fire Code. The purpose of the regulations is to ensure the safe use of grills.

• Propane and charcoal grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces such as tents, they pose a fire hazard and a risk of exposing occupants to deadly carbon monoxide.
• Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic. Grills should be at least 10 feet away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• BBQ grills are not allowed on apartment building balconies or decks.
• BBQ grills are allowed on porches and decks of one and two family houses.
• Never store spare propane cylinders under or near a grill or inside the home.
• Do not transport propane cylinders in the trunk of a passenger vehicle.
• Keep matches, lighters, and starter fluid out of the reach of children in a locked drawer or cabinet.
• Children should never be allowed to start outdoor cooking equipment.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• Use long BBQ mitts and long-handled grilling tools to protect the chef from heat and flames.
• Always turn off valves when not in use.
• Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.
• To guard against the possibility of damage or explosion, burners, tubing and piping should be clean and free from insects, dust and debris.
• When purchasing a grill, select one that bears the approval mark of an independent testing laboratory.

EMS Week: Be Ready - Learn First-Aid and CRP

National EMS Week was established to heighten public awareness of emergency medical services and teach early activation of EMS through the proper use of the 9-1-1 emergency system. EMS agencies urge every citizen to:

• Have essential emergency supplies, such as a Shelter-in-Place Kit and a Go Bag with First-Aid Kits.
• Develop a Household Emergency Plan with important emergency phone numbers.
• Make sure your house number is visible from the street.  Make it easier for police, fire or emergency medical personnel to find your house.
• Keep a Health Information Card for each member of the household with their medical conditions, allergies, medications and dosages.
• Take a First-Aid Class, learn CRP and abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver.
• Instruct all family members in the proper and appropriate use of 9-1-1 in an emergency. The sooner 9-1-1 is called, the sooner advanced life support arrives.

These important techniques are the key to saving the life of a family member or a fellow citizen.


For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready. You can also follow PhilaOEM on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, MySpace, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Prepare Your Pets for Emergencies

Last week was National Pet Week, so make sure your pets are prepared. Include your pets in your household emergency plan. If you must evacuate, you should evacuate your pets, too – it’s not safe to leave them behind.

Service animals as well as pets are allowed in certain shelters. Plan for your pet's safety now, before an emergency and put together a Pet Emergency Kit with the following items:

• A three-day supply of water, food and containers, non-spill bowls, and a can opener.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers/cages to transport pets safely and ensure that they cannot escape.
• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, veterinarian’s phone number, proof of vaccination, pet license numbers, and microchip numbers.
• Medication for your pet (if needed).
• Plastic bags, paper towels, and wipes for clean-up.
• Recent photos of your pet for identification.
• Tech Ready - store recent pictures of your pet on your mobile phone along with pictures of your pet's prescription medication or other important information.  

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has additional pet preparedness tips on the Pets and Tech Ready pages of www.phila.gov/ready. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team website at http://sart.cas.psu and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website at www.aspca.org.

Building Safety Month: Make Sure Your Home is Ready for a Disaster

 The International Code Council recommends these 10 important tips for Home 
 Disaster Safety: 

• Develop a family emergency plan and share with everyone in your family, so you will know where to go if an evacuation is called. Review at least two exit routes from your home or neighborhood to a designated meeting place for your family. Plan ahead for your pets and remember that pets are welcome if Philadelphia opens emergency shelters.
• Create a Shelter-in-Place Kit that will allow you to remain in your home after a disaster and a Go Bag for use after evacuating to a safer location. Be sure the necessities in your kit are fresh and restored every six months when you reset your clocks for Daylight Saving Time.
• Stay tuned to radio, TV and NOAA Weather Radio for official updates and critical life saving weather information. Remember, reception is usually best if placed near a window.
• Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. Never drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It takes only six inches of fast flowing water to sweep you off your feet and two feet of water to move an SUV-sized vehicle.
• If you live in a high wind or hurricane prone area and do not have tested and code approved shutters for protection from windborne debris, temporarily protect your doors and windows by mounting exterior grade, 5/8” plywood and fastening it into place. Visit www.flash.org for detailed instructions on how to use plywood for emergency board up.
• Secure lawn furniture and any other loose outdoor items that can become windborne and can cause injury or damage during storms with high winds. Don’t forget trash cans, grills, toys and potted plants.
• Consider building or retrofitting to create a tornado safe room in your home. Follow ICC/NSSA 500 or FEMA 320 for detailed construction information and to ensure you achieve the highest level of protection for your family.
• Use Surge Protective Devices (SPD) in your home to protect electronic appliances from all but the most severe electrical surges or direct strikes. The devices should be installed to afford the highest level of protection.
• In wildfire prone areas, remove fine (dead grass, leaves, etc.) and course fields (dead twigs, branches, etc.) within 30 feet of a building to create a survivable space in case of wildfire. Be sure to remove dry leaf and pine litter from roofs, rain gutters, decks and walkways.
• Before a winter storm, insulate all exposed water pipes outside the home. It is important to allow a slow trickle of water to flow during a winter freeze especially if the faucet is on an exterior wall. Remember, wrap and drip your pipes for the ultimate protection in a freeze.

For more information, visit the Federal Alliance for Safer Homes at www.flash.org or the International Code Council at www.iccsafe.org. Additional emergency preparedness tips can be found by visiting the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. 

Be Tech Ready

Utilize everyday technology to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency situations.
 

 Keep Important Documents Accessible 

• Store personal, financial and insurance records in a password-protected area in the Cloud or on a secure flash drive. 
• Include copies of identification, such as a Driver's license or passport, and your Household Emergency Plan. 
• Don't forget your pets. Store their veterinary medical records and a current photo to aid in identification.

 Direct Deposit and Electronic Banking 

• Sign up for Direct Deposit and electronic banking through your financial institution so you can access your payroll funds and make electronic payments regardless of location.

 Stay Connected 

• Program "Emergency Contacts" into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people if you are unable to use your phone. 
• Keep extra batteries for your phone or purchase a solar-powered or hand crank charger. 
• Be able to send updates via text and social media in case voice communication is not available. 
• Prepare a family communication plan in your Household Emergency Plan. Be sure to include one out-of-town contact. (Long distance calls may be easier to make if an emergency overwhelms local phone lines.)

For more information and additional tips, visit the Tech Ready page.