Saturday, November 30, 2013

Weather Calendar from @OKMesonet for #AltusOK

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1	T Avgs: 60/33
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	81 (1950)
Low T	7 (2006)
Precip	0.98 (1933)
Snow	2.5 (2006)

2	T Avgs: 60/32
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	83 (1995)
Low T	8* (1985)
Precip	2.33 (1913)
Snow	trace (1919)

3	T Avgs: 59/33
Sig Prcp Freq: 11%

Extremes:
High T	80 (1995)
Low T	17 (1967)
Precip	0.65 (1993)

4	T Avgs: 59/32
Sig Prcp Freq: 11%

Extremes:
High T	88 (1954)
Low T	18 (2009)
Precip	1.47 (1947)

5	T Avgs: 59/33
Sig Prcp Freq: 13%

Extremes:
High T	84 (1956)
Low T	18* (1950)
Precip	0.81 (1935)
Snow	trace* (1950)

6	T Avgs: 56/32
Sig Prcp Freq: 7%

Extremes:
High T	80 (1939)
Low T	6 (1950)
Precip	1.82 (1926)
Snow	1.6 (1942)

7	T Avgs: 57/30
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	83 (1966)
Low T	8 (1950)
Precip	0.51 (1942)
Snow	7.5 (1942)

8	T Avgs: 54/30
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	77 (1970)
Low T	2 (2005)
Precip	1.65 (1980)
Snow	trace* (1921)

9	T Avgs: 54/29
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	75* (1957)
Low T	4 (2005)
Precip	1.42 (1999)
Snow	2.0 (1932)

10	T Avgs: 54/30
Sig Prcp Freq: 9%

Extremes:
High T	83 (1939)
Low T	7 (1919)
Precip	1.07 (1999)
Snow	trace (1997)

11	T Avgs: 54/29
Sig Prcp Freq: 9%

Extremes:
High T	81 (1939)
Low T	8 (1917)
Precip	0.95 (1960)
Snow	0.5 (1972)

12	T Avgs: 54/29
Sig Prcp Freq: 11%

Extremes:
High T	79 (1921)
Low T	5 (1989)
Precip	0.96 (2007)
Snow	0.5 (1972)

13	T Avgs: 52/29
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	84 (1921)
Low T	6 (1917)
Precip	0.53 (2000)
Snow	2.0 (1985)

14	T Avgs: 53/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 5%

Extremes:
High T	79 (1921)
Low T	8* (1914)
Precip	0.70 (1992)

15	T Avgs: 52/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 10%

Extremes:
High T	79 (1977)
Low T	8 (1987)
Precip	0.99 (1984)
Snow	5.0 (1932)

16	T Avgs: 54/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 9%

Extremes:
High T	78 (2006)
Low T	8 (1987)
Precip	1.54 (1931)
Snow	trace* (1965)

17	T Avgs: 53/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	77 (1939)
Low T	0 (1932)
Precip	0.80 (1959)
Snow	2.5 (1924)

18	T Avgs: 52/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 5%

Extremes:
High T	76 (1977)
Low T	8* (1964)
Precip	0.70 (1995)
Snow	1.0 (1924)

19	T Avgs: 54/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	76 (1978)
Low T	0 (1924)
Precip	1.41 (1918)
Snow	0.5 (1995)

20	T Avgs: 52/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	77 (2004)
Low T	6 (1983)
Precip	1.59 (2006)
Snow	trace* (1951)

21	T Avgs: 52/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 8%

Extremes:
High T	78 (1981)
Low T	5 (1983)
Precip	1.24 (1997)
Snow	1.0 (1916)

22	T Avgs: 53/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 9%

Extremes:
High T	74* (1982)
Low T	0* (1983)
Precip	1.20 (2002)
Snow	3.0 (1913)

23	T Avgs: 52/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 7%

Extremes:
High T	76 (1964)
Low T	-10 (1989)
Precip	2.79 (1932)
Snow	10.5 (1918)

24	T Avgs: 51/26
Sig Prcp Freq: 7%

Extremes:
High T	88 (1955)
Low T	4 (1983)
Precip	1.29 (1965)
Snow	2.5 (2009)

25	T Avgs: 51/26
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	75 (1950)
Low T	5 (1983)
Precip	0.85 (2009)
Snow	5.0 (1939)

26	T Avgs: 52/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 4%

Extremes:
High T	77 (2005)
Low T	7 (1914)
Precip	1.75 (1987)
Snow	1.3 (2000)

27	T Avgs: 51/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 7%

Extremes:
High T	78 (1923)
Low T	7 (1924)
Precip	1.18 (1927)
Snow	1.3 (2000)

28	T Avgs: 52/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	80 (1923)
Low T	-1 (1924)
Precip	0.34 (1943)
Snow	2.0 (1944)

29	T Avgs: 53/27
Sig Prcp Freq: 6%

Extremes:
High T	80* (1923)
Low T	1 (1983)
Precip	0.64 (1979)
Snow	3.5 (1954)

30	T Avgs: 53/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 2%

Extremes:
High T	82 (1921)
Low T	8 (1990)
Precip	0.64 (2006)
Snow	2.0 (2009)

31	T Avgs: 52/28
Sig Prcp Freq: 9%

Extremes:
High T	81 (1951)
Low T	6 (1968)
Precip	1.78 (1984)
Snow	1.5 (1918)

Periods of Record
Temps	#1903-2010
Precip	#1903-2012
Snow	#1903-2012
# - large gaps in record

Key
* - Record since tied Highlight = Dec record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip

Dec. Averages
High Temp	55 F
Low Temp	29 F
Avg Temp	42 F
Precip	1.18"
Snow	1.0"

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Road Rules from our friends @FEMA #AltusOK

Hitting the road this holiday? In some areas winter weather means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions and unseen dangers. Are you prepared? According to a recent FEMA survey, 52 percent of people reported having supplies set aside for use in a disaster.

If your travel needs call for driving in wintry weather, prepare your car for the trip by updating your vehicle emergency kit with:

Booster cables;
Blankets, hats, socks, and mittens;
Road salt or sand; and
A fluorescent distress flag.

While on the road, follow these driving techniques to ensure you reach your destination safely:

Decrease your speed and leave plenty of room to stop;
Break gently to avoid skidding;
Do not use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads; and
Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to others.

Road conditions can change quickly! Should disaster strike when traveling, use the Disaster Reporter feature on the FEMA app to send photos of your location for first responders and response teams to view. You can also keep up with weather forecasts using your NOAA weather radio to plan ahead! Remember safety first. If weather conditions are too severe, it’s best not to drive.

Also, have a fully charged Cell phone in hand before leaving. Tell people on both ends of the trip when you leave and your route.

As always, Ham Radio can be a lifesaver in an emergency when the Cell Phone is dead.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Important Information for #OKfire

Fire & Life Safety Practices for Assisted Living/Residential Care Facilities & Memory Care Units

FIRE/EVACUATION DRILLS

Policy
Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted on each shift to familiarize facility staff and residents with the signals and emergency action required under varied conditions.

Assisted living/residential care & memory care unit residents have, in large part, varied degrees of disability and their evacuation from the facility may require various levels of staff assistance. Recognizing that there might be certain operational necessities to the contrary, fire exit drills may be disturbing or cause resident’s anxiety. Fire exit drills are required and all residents are required to participate in accordance with their individual capabilities. NOTE: Allowing or encouraging residents to ignore or otherwise not participate during fire exit drills is inconsistent with these requirements.
1. Fire drills in assisted living/residential care facilities & memory care units shall include the transmission of a fire alarm signal and simulation of emergency fire conditions.
a. Drills shall be conducted not less than two times per year on each shift to familiarize facility staff and residents with the signals and emergency action required under varied conditions.
b. Fire drills and fire drill critiques shall not be considered as employee in-service training.
2. Resident Participation Emergency evacuation drills shall involve the actual evacuation of residents to a selected assembly point and shall provide residents with experience exiting through approved required exits. Within each year all required exits shall be used during drills.
3. Records shall be maintained of required fire/evacuation drills and include the following information
a. Identity of the person conducting the drill.
b. Date and time of the drills.
c. Notification method used.
d. Staff members on duty and participating.
e. Number of occupants relocated/evacuated or simulated.
f. Special conditions simulated.
g. Problems encountered.
h. Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated.
i. Time required to accomplish complete relocation/evacuation.
j. All residents and other building occupants shall be accounted for during fire/evacuation drills.
4. Fire drill/evacuation procedures.
a. The purpose of the fire drill is to test facility staff and residents in the following:
(1) Efficiency
(2) Knowledge
(3) Response to Fire Emergencies
b. Fire drill procedures are the same as for a real fire.
c. Fire drills shall be held at unexpected times and on a random basis. Fire drills shall be conducted under varying circumstances, simulating actual fire conditions.
d. The person conducting the fire drill shall notify the fire alarm monitoring company PRIOR to the fire drill and again at COMPLETION of the fire drill.
e. A simulated fire (cloth, sign, etc.) with written description of fire problem shall be placed at a predetermined location.
f. Emphasize orderly action under proper discipline, rather than speed.
g. Drills shall include transmission of fire alarm signals throughout the facility (unless otherwise approved by the fire code official).
h Written procedures shall require that all staff and residents participate during fire drills in accordance with emergency preparedness plan. Testing and fire drills require separate documentation.

Thanks to

DEATHERAGE ASSOCIATES, LLC
6969 South 310th East Avenue
Broken Arrow, OK 74014-5479
(918) 357-2215 bill@tdcsafety.com
Billy (918) 639-9342 www.tdcsafety.com Bill (918) 230-3851
Safety Depends On Us

for this information.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS (WEA)

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency.

The WEA notification is designed to get your attention and notify you with a unique sound and vibration.
Public safety officials use WEA to send you essential information whenever you are near the location of a life-threatening event.
You do not need to register to receive WEA notifications. You will automatically receive alerts if you have WEA-capable phone and your wireless carrier participates in the program.
To find out if your mobile device is capable of receiving WEA alerts, contact your mobile device carrier or visit CTIA The Wireless Association
Download the WEA Fact Sheet or view Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information on WEA Alerts, go to go to Ready.gov/alerts orReady.gov/alertas (Spanish).

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Citizens Urged to Prepare for Winter Weather

Jackson County Commissioner Chair, Anthony Fixico has signed a proclamation designating Wednesday, November 13 as "Winter Weather Preparedness Day" in Jackson County and urged citizens to prepare for the upcoming winter weather season.

“In recent years we've experienced winter weather storms, including devastating ice storms and blizzards," Fixico said. "We all need to be aware of these natural threats we face in our community and take responsibility to make sure we are properly prepared when disaster strikes."

The Jackson County Emergency Management Office has joined with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the National Weather Service and other agencies to raise public awareness about what can be done to prepare for hazardous winter weather. Individuals or groups who would like to host a program to help become better prepared should call the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at 580-482-0229.

Winter Weather Awareness Tips:

Have A Plan:

• Discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued.

• Ensure your family knows meeting places and phone numbers of other family members in case

they are separated when a winter storm hits.

• Know what to do if basic services such as water, gas, electricity or telephones are cut off for an

extended period of time.

• Understand the hazards of wind chill. Cold temperatures are even more dangerous, and

potentially deadly, when combined with strong winds. The lower the temperature and stronger

the wind, the more at risk you are.

• Check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. Make sure they are prepared.

• Plan to bring pets inside during winter weather. Move livestock to sheltered areas with non-

frozen drinking water.

• Install and check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

• Let faucets drip to avoid freezing and know how to shut off water valves if necessary.

• Have an alternate heating method such as fireplace or wood or coal burning stove. Always be

cautious using a portable space heater.

• Have your car winterized before winter storm season. Keep your gas tank full for emergency

use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.

• Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary insulate walls and attic. Caulk and

weather-strip doors and windowsills.

• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.

• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of old newspapers. Cover the

newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.

Make A Kit:

• Windshield scraper, de-icer, snow shovel and small broom for ice and snow removal.

• A cell phone with charger and a battery powered radio.

• Several blankets or sleeping bags.

• Mittens, they are warmer than gloves.

• Rain gear, warm coats and extra sets of dry clothing, mittens, socks and a cap.

• Non-perishable snacks like dried fruit, nuts and other high energy “munchies.”

• Bottled water. Eating snow will lower your body temperature. If necessary, melt it first.

• Sand or cat litter for generating traction under wheels and a set of tire chains or traction mats.

• Jumper cables, flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit and brightly colored cloth to tie to

antenna if you get stranded.

Stay Informed:

• Know what National Weather Service winter storm and blizzard watches and warnings mean.

• A winter storm watch is a message indicating a winter storm is possible in your area.

• A winter storm warning indicates a winter storm is occurring winter storm is occurring or will

soon occur in your area and could threaten life and property.

• A winter weather advisory means winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant

inconveniences and may be hazardous, especially to motorists.

• A frost/freeze warning means below freezing temperatures are expected.

• Ice storms usually bring heavy accumulations of ice that can bring down trees, electrical wires,

telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and power can be

disrupted for days while the utility company works to repair the extensive damage.

• A blizzard warning means sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater and

considerable falling or blowing snow is expected to prevail for a period of three hours or

longer.

• Depend on your NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio, along with local radio and television

stations, for weather reports.

Be Cautious with Alternative Heat Sources:

• Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline or charcoal-burning devices inside

your home or garage. They produce carbon monoxide.

• Never heat a home with an oven if the electricity goes out

• Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented.

• Do not place a space heater within 3 feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as drapes,

furniture, or bedding, and never cover your space heater.

• Use extra caution when using space heaters. Never place a space heater on top of furniture

or near water.

• Never leave children unattended near a space heater.

• Do keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergency.

• Protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning by installing a battery-operated carbon

monoxide detector and never using generators, grills, camp stoves or similar devices indoors.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Check your stocks as you reset your clocks, Nov. 3

From our friends at the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corp comes this timely reminder:

The switch back to Standard Time this Sunday, Nov. 3, is the perfect opportunity for Oklahomans to check their family emergency stockpiles, change batteries in radios, replace expired food items, rotate items in the kit, update family information, or determine if there are any items that are missing.
An emergency preparedness kit is a first step to ensure families and businesses can sustain themselves in the event of an illness outbreak or a natural disaster. Family emergency supplies can be contained in a new, large trashcan, a backpack or a suitcase and can be assembled over several months by adding just one or two items to a grocery list. A kit should include food, water, a first aid kit, tools, copies of important documents, clothing and bedding, medications, and pet supplies. A household preparedness kit should include enough supplies to sustain everyone in the household for up to three weeks.
The health department’s recommendations for a family emergency preparedness kit include:

Prescription and over-the-counter medications
Toiletries, including soap
First-aid kit
Baby formula and diapers
Extra eyeglasses
Pet food/medications/leashes/collars/ID tags
Extra batteries for flashlight(s) and radio(s)
Garbage bags
Cash
Non-perishable food, ready-to-eat canned meats, soups, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, protein bars, utensils, can openers, sterno heating
One gallon of water per person per day and fluids with electrolytes that will last for up to two weeks

The Oklahoma State Department of health has additional information about family preparedness at http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Emergency_Preparedness_and_Response/Preparedness/index.html

Friday, November 1, 2013

Weather information from @OKmesonet for #AltusOK

Shown as November 2013