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Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts June 1st, Tropical Storm Arthur has already formed in the Atlantic and moved on from the U.S. coast last month. As we enter the beginning of the 2020 hurricane season, the Salisbury Fire Department wants to remind residents to make a plan now to keep your family safe, particularly while dealing with COVID-19.

Follow the advice below to minimize risks associated with severe weather:

• Sign up to receive RoCo Alerts from the City of Salisbury and Rowan County. The county-wide notification system informs residents about emergency situations and community advisories. Go to the City of Salisbury website: www.salisbury nc.gov/RoCoAlerts to sign up.
• Check in on family members and neighbors who may need help in severe weather.
• Make sure eyeglasses, prescription medicine, canes and walkers are kept close at hand, especially at night.
• If neighbors have a battery-powered oxygen generator, make sure the battery is fully charged before the storm.
• Powerful storms will knock down tree limbs and power lines, causing electricity to go out.
  • Never touch a downed power line.
  • Stay away from it, and report it to the power company.
  • If the wire is sparking or touching a building, call 911.
• A good emergency plan includes a supply of prepared foods that don’t have to be cooked. Camp stoves and barbecue grills must be used outdoors only. Otherwise, they can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, a colorless, odorless gas.
• Portable generators have fire and burn dangers and can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The exhaust from generators contains high levels of CO. Breathing too much of it is deadly. Follow this advice for safer use:
  • Place the generator outside, well away from doors, windows and vents.
  • Generators need ventilation. Never place a working generator in the garage.
• Expect prolonged electrical outages after a major storm. Buy flashlights, and stock up on batteries. If you must use a candle when the power is out:
  • Make sure that the candle is at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
  • Blow the candle out if you leave the room, get sleepy or go to bed.
• If you are required to leave your home, you may be placed in a community evacuation shelter with appropriate social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions. If relocated to a shelter, immediately identify two exits closest to your location. Make sure that you can get outside from both exits.

• 9 June 2020
• Author: Salisbury Fire Department
• Number of views: 42713
• Comments: 0