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.