Here are your #AltusOK records for September from @OKmesonet

Shown as September 2015
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Periods of Record Temps #1903-2010 Precip #1903-2012 Snow #1903-2012 # - large gaps in record	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Sep record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	1 T Avgs: 92/67 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 108 (1951) Low T 51 (1915) Precip 1.93 (1932)	2 T Avgs: 93/67 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 107 (1947) Low T 53* (1915) Precip 0.68 (1989)	3 T Avgs: 92/66 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 109 (2000) Low T 48 (1974) Precip 1.95 (1959)	4 T Avgs: 91/66 Sig Prcp Freq: 20% Extremes: High T 108* (1947) Low T 50 (1974) Precip 2.69 (1996)	5 T Avgs: 91/65 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 108 (1998) Low T 50 (1974) Precip 5.85 (1971)
6 T Avgs: 92/66 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 104* (1963) Low T 53 (1974) Precip 0.92 (1973)	7 T Avgs: 92/66 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 105* (1936) Low T 50 (1943) Precip 2.46 (1942)	8 T Avgs: 91/65 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 104 (1930) Low T 51 (2004) Precip 2.15 (1949)	9 T Avgs: 91/64 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 103 (1936) Low T 48 (2004) Precip 1.20 (1941)	10 T Avgs: 90/64 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 104* (1963) Low T 47 (1962) Precip 1.24 (2007)	11 T Avgs: 89/63 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 106 (2000) Low T 50 (1976) Precip 1.20 (1969)	12 T Avgs: 89/64 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 108 (1930) Low T 49 (1940) Precip 3.55 (1933)
13 T Avgs: 89/63 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 105 (1930) Low T 48* (1975) Precip 3.50 (1989)	14 T Avgs: 88/62 Sig Prcp Freq: 21% Extremes: High T 104* (1918) Low T 46* (1945) Precip 3.60 (1925)	15 T Avgs: 87/63 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 104 (1943) Low T 41 (1993) Precip 1.51 (2005)	16 T Avgs: 87/62 Sig Prcp Freq: 23% Extremes: High T 104 (1956) Low T 45 (1993) Precip 2.43 (1964)	17 T Avgs: 88/62 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 102 (1997) Low T 41 (1981) Precip 1.14 (1976)	18 T Avgs: 88/62 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 103 (1952) Low T 40 (1981) Precip 1.96 (1971)	19 T Avgs: 87/62 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 102* (1930) Low T 47 (2003) Precip 4.38 (1965)
20 T Avgs: 87/61 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 103 (1953) Low T 44* (1918) Precip 2.15 (1965)	21 T Avgs: 86/60 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 102* (1977) Low T 35 (1983) Precip 1.79 (1974)	22 T Avgs: 86/59 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 101 (1977) Low T 40 (1983) Precip 1.92 (1969)	23 T Avgs: 85/59 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 100 (1926) Low T 40 (1994) Precip 5.26 (1997)	24 T Avgs: 84/58 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 100* (1930) Low T 35 (1989) Precip 1.97 (1916)	25 T Avgs: 83/58 Sig Prcp Freq: 19% Extremes: High T 99* (1998) Low T 40* (1975) Precip 2.77 (1974)	26 T Avgs: 84/56 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 106 (1953) Low T 38 (2000) Precip 3.71 (1936)
27 T Avgs: 84/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 104 (1953) Low T 38 (1942) Precip 1.96 (1973)	28 T Avgs: 84/56 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 105 (1953) Low T 38 (1967) Precip 0.70 (1926)	29 T Avgs: 83/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 100* (1928) Low T 40 (1916) Precip 3.00 (1986)	30 T Avgs: 83/54 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 105 (1977) Low T 28 (1984) Precip 1.22 (1941)	Sep. Averages High Temp 88 F Low Temp 62 F Avg Temp 75 F Precip 2.82" Snow 0.0"

Is your community #OKready #AltusOK

Organizing Community Preparedness Activities

We all have a role in preparing our communities for disasters, and organizing a community preparedness activity is one way to get started. TheReady Campaign identifies five steps along with valuable resources for making your community safer, more resilient, and better prepared: 

• Identify Local Partners. Look for programs that are already doing good work such as Citizen Corps Councils and Community Emergency Response Teams;
• Build a Team. Citizen Corps Council meetings are a valuable tactic for recruiting volunteers;
• Set Goals. Clear goals helps increase accountability;
• Serve Your Community. Find out what your community is doing to prepare for emergencies; and
• Celebrate Success. Thank your volunteers after every event, and encourage them to sign up for the next activity. 

Find out more information about each of these steps and start planning! When you complete your preparedness activity, be sure to add it to the America’s PrepareAthon! website so members of your team can be counted as participants in this national grassroots campaign for action to get people better prepared for emergencies.

Wildfire Evacuation #AltusOK #OKfire #prepareathon

Wildfires have recently struck parts of the U.S. forcing many residents to leave their homes. These fires can occur at any time throughout the year, but the potential is always higher during periods of little to no rainfall, which make grass and trees burn more easily.

When a wildfire threatens your area, the best action to protect yourself and your family is to evacuate early to avoid being trapped. The America’s PrepareAthon! How to Prepare for a Wildfire guide offers valuable information to protect your family during a wildfire.  On page five of the guide, you’ll find tips to help you prepare for an evacuation, including:

• Know your community’s evacuation plan and identify several escape routes in case roads are blocked;
• Keep your car fueled and in good condition. Keep emergency supplies and a change of clothes in your car; and
• Make arrangements now if you will need to share transportation or use public transportation.

If you drive during an evacuation and there is smoke, drive carefully because visibility may be reduced. Also, keep your headlights on and watch for other vehicles and fleeing wildlife.

Take disaster preparedness to the next level. Download the new Wildfire Safety Toolkit from the Ready campaign and America’s PrepareAthon! to share wildfire safety tips with family and friends today!

Beat the Heat with a new Social Media Toolkit #SMEM #OKwx

Get the Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit

Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down! Learn how to beat the heat by following tips provided in the Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit.  TheReady Campaign and America’s PrepareAthon! developed heat safety messages to share on your social media networks. You can also adapt the social media content to fit your community’s needs.

Get started today! Here are some things you can do to promote heat safety:

• Download the Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit and graphics. They are the last two items listed on the 2015 Seasonal Social Media Toolkits page of the FEMA documents library;
• Update your Facebook cover with a heat safety graphic; and
• Use the hashtags: #BeatTheHeat, #HeatSafety, #SummerSafety; and attach a graphic from the toolkit.

Disaster Supply Kits: Budget-Friendly and Fun

Do you think preparing for disasters is too expensive and boring? Think again!  Being prepared doesn't have to break the bank. You can create a budget-friendly basic disaster supply kit using items you may already have at home.  You can also make preparedness enjoyable for the entire family! 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Preparedness on a Shoestring activity guide suggests organizing a family scavenger hunt to locate items around your home such as first aid supplies and food. After you’ve built your kit, there are several ways to maintain its low-cost quality. For example:

• Purchase items from your local dollar store or discount retailer;
• Take advantage of  “Buy One, Get One” deals at your local supermarket; and
• Trade extra supplies with family and friends.

FEMA advises to prepare your disaster supply kit with enough items to survive for at least three days. If you are packing a kit for more than just yourself, be sure to make necessary accommodations to fit each person’sneeds. Also, remember to check your kit for expired items every six months.

How #OKready is your School? #AltusOK

School Emergency Planning

Are you a parent or caregiver of a school-aged child? Disasters can strike at any time, even during school hours.  As a new school year begins, it’s important for you to know how your child’s school handles emergencies.The Ready Campaign suggests asking the following questions about your child's school emergency plan:

• How does the school plan on communicating with you in the event of a disaster?
• Does the school store adequate water, food and other basic supplies?
• Does the school have a plan for students to shelter in place?
• If not, where will students go if they must evacuate?

You can never be too informed when it comes to school safety plans. Popular preparedness blogger, The Survival Mom, lists other questions you might want to ask, so be sure to check out her blog.

If your child’s school doesn’t have an emergency plan, consider volunteering to help create one. Parents and caregivers will be better prepared to safely reunite with their child if plans are made ahead of time.

“Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.” Get ready for National Preparedness Month in September. Making and testing your plan is also one of the 10 Ways to Participate in America’s PrepareAthon!

Earthquake Safety Tips offered #AltusOK #OKquake

Stay Safe During Earthquakes

Earthquakes can occur anywhere, at any time and with little warning. Larger earthquakes can cause death, injury, and extensive property damage. Most injuries occur when people trip or fall running away during the earthquake.Stay safe during an earthquake by following these steps: 

• DROP down onto your hands and knees so you aren't knocked down by the earthquake; 
• COVER your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris. If you are in danger from falling objects, move to a safer place by crawling; and 
• HOLD ON to any sturdy covering so you can move with it until the shaking stops. 

Earthquakes aren't preventable, but personal injury can be! Learn more about earthquake safety in the How to Prepare for an Earthquake guide andanimated video from America's PrepareAthon! You can also view hashtag #DropCoverHoldOn to see the earthquake preparedness conversation from @ShakeOut during their Twitter chat held on August 12, 2015.  This Twitter chat is part of a 7-week series of dialogues promoting Earthquake Country Alliance’s Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.  

There are just two more Twitter chats left in the series! Be sure to join @ShakeOut at 11 AM PT/ 2 PM ET for the following conversations:

• August 19: Improve Safety
• August 26: Reconnect And Restore

College Campus Safety #AltusOK @westernokstate

Summer break is almost over and many students are preparing to head back to campus for another school year.  Before you or your student enters their new college home, it's important that both on- and off-campus students know their fire risk and how to prevent fire emergencies.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), university housing fires occur most frequently in the late summer and fall, and more than 80 percent of campus fire fatalities occur in off-campus housing. Cooking, candles, and overloaded power strips are some of the specific causes for fires in on- and off-campus housing.

Help yourself or your student stay fire safe this school year by encouraging them to follow these USFA tips:

• Cook only where it is allowed;
• Never leave a burning candle unattended;
• Do not overload outlets; and
• Only use surge protectors or power strips that have internal overload protection.

Get in the know about campus fire safety by downloading this wall poster from USFA.

ABCs of School Emergency Planning #AltusOK #OKready

It’s September once again and that means children across the country are heading back to school!  Do you know the emergency plan at your child's school? What about the steps the school will take to share pertinent information with you? As a parent, it’s important to understand what will happen after a natural disaster or emergency at your child’s school.

Here are the ABC’s of what you should know about a school’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP):

A.    Always ensure your school has up-to-date evacuation plans, emergency kits and contact sheets. Ensure your school’s nurse has your child’s medical information and medications on hand. Ask your child’s teacher to walk you through their evacuation plan and show you their emergency kits.

B.     Be Prepared. Provide your school with your cell phone number, work phone number, and contact information for your relatives. If your child is old enough to carry a cell phone, make sure they know how to text you or a designated contact in case of an emergency. Also, be prepared to have aconversation with your child about emergencies and hazards.

C.     Coordinate with your child’s teachers and school officials to set a plan in place if there is not one. Guide them to Ready.gov for more resources and encourage the school to perform school wide drills and exercises as part of America’s PrepareAthon!

These ABCs, tools and resources are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your child’s at-school safety. For more information on how to get started visit http://www.ready.gov/school-emergency-plans.