Your #AltusOK weather extremes from @OKMesonet

Shown as February 2016
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Periods of Record Temps #1904-2011 Precip #1904-2012 Snow #1904-2012 # - large gaps in record	1 T Avgs: 53/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 86 (1963) Low T -2 (1951) Precip 0.98 (1983) Snow 4.0 (2011)	2 T Avgs: 53/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 87 (2003) Low T -1 (1951) Precip 0.22 (1944) Snow 0.5 (1996)	3 T Avgs: 55/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 81* (1934) Low T 2 (1996) Precip 1.20 (1960) Snow 0.5* (1929)	4 T Avgs: 56/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 78* (1928) Low T -1 (1996) Precip 3.23 (1964) Snow 0.5* (1983)	5 T Avgs: 55/30 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 82 (2008) Low T 5 (1989) Precip 0.67 (1987) Snow 2.5 (1998)	6 T Avgs: 56/29 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 78* (1925) Low T 10 (1914) Precip 0.72 (2005) Snow 3.0 (1961)
7 T Avgs: 56/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 82 (1932) Low T -3 (1933) Precip 1.45 (1934) Snow 6.0 (1933)	8 T Avgs: 57/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 80* (1925) Low T -6 (1933) Precip 1.10 (1927) Snow 2.0 (1929)	9 T Avgs: 55/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 88 (1932) Low T 7 (1933) Precip 0.59 (1965) Snow 3.0 (2011)	10 T Avgs: 57/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 82 (1922) Low T 4* (1929) Precip 0.80 (1993) Snow 2.0 (1986)	11 T Avgs: 56/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 93 (1962) Low T -7 (1986) Precip 0.70 (1977) Snow trace (1993)	12 T Avgs: 57/30 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 90 (1962) Low T 9 (1948) Precip 0.92 (1978) Snow 2.5 (1948)	13 T Avgs: 59/30 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 87 (1962) Low T 9 (1958) Precip 1.19 (1950) Snow 2.0 (1968)
14 T Avgs: 59/31 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 88 (1954) Low T 5 (1936) Precip 0.92 (1969) Snow 2.5* (1951)	15 T Avgs: 57/31 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 88 (1924) Low T 11 (2007) Precip 0.88 (1993) Snow 2.5 (2004)	16 T Avgs: 57/29 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 78 (1927) Low T 9 (1936) Precip 0.80 (1940) Snow 7.0 (1928)	17 T Avgs: 58/29 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 83 (1970) Low T 12* (1928) Precip 0.62* (1998) Snow 2.0 (1978)	18 T Avgs: 58/31 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 84 (1986) Low T 2 (1978) Precip 1.12 (1921) Snow 10.2 (1921)	19 T Avgs: 59/31 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 86 (1986) Low T 10 (1929) Precip 0.97 (1998) Snow 1.0 (1921)	20 T Avgs: 61/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 90 (1981) Low T 12 (1918) Precip 2.15 (1997) Snow trace* (1929)
21 T Avgs: 60/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 90 (1996) Low T 11 (1939) Precip 1.74 (1997) Snow 1.5 (1968)	22 T Avgs: 60/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 93 (1996) Low T 14 (1976) Precip 1.12 (1994) Snow 3.0 (1973)	23 T Avgs: 61/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 91 (1918) Low T 7 (1914) Precip 0.74 (1941) Snow 4.5 (1941)	24 T Avgs: 60/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 92 (1918) Low T 10 (1965) Precip 0.79 (2001) Snow 2.8 (1953)	25 T Avgs: 61/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 93 (1917) Low T 9 (1960) Precip 0.88 (1933) Snow 1.0 (1960)	26 T Avgs: 60/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 86 (1996) Low T 12* (1934) Precip 0.36* (1915) Snow 1.0 (1945)	27 T Avgs: 61/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 86 (2009) Low T 10 (2002) Precip 0.65 (1948) Snow 7.0 (1945)
28 T Avgs: 60/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 88 (1972) Low T 11* (1922) Precip 1.40 (1990) Snow 2.7 (1922)	29 T Avgs: 65/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 4% Extremes: High T 87 (1972) Low T 16 (1960) Precip 0.61 (2004)	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Feb record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	Feb. Averages High Temp 58 F Low Temp 31 F Avg Temp 45 F Precip 1.03" Snow 1.4

Winter Preparedness for Your Business #AltusOK #OpenForBusiness

If a winter storm should strike, do you have safeguards in place to protect your business? Preparing your business for both short and long-term interruptions is important. Additionally, business owners should consider having an action or communications plan for their employees. 

In partnership with Agility Recovery, the Small Business Administration developed a checklist for business owners to consider when preparing their companies for emergencies and disaster recoveries: 

Before the Storm

• Check your insurance coverage protection against winter hazards;
• Develop a procedure for restoring electrical services on an item-by-item basis; and
• Develop a procedure for relocating salvageable and undamaged stock and supplies.

During the Storm

• Keep driveways, walkways, and doorways clear of snow and ice;
• Open water faucets to let them drip to keep water flowing through the pipes vulnerable to freezing; and
• Have the names and phone numbers of your heating contractor, plumber, fire department, insurance agent, and building owner accessible.

You can read the entire business preparation checklist on the Agility Recovery website. 

Webinar: Preparing Youth for Disasters

The Individual and Community Preparedness Division is pleased to invite you to a webinar on Thursday, February 4, 2016, focused on engaging the public on disaster preparedness and resilience efforts serving youth. 

Title: Preparing Youth for Disasters
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2016
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

Featured Speakers:                                 

• Bruce Lockwood, Acting Captain, Emergency Management Division, East Hartford Fire Department, CT; Former Commissioner, National Commission on Children and Disasters, will share the background on the unique needs of children in a disaster and the importance of preparedness planning and education.
• Sarah Thompson, Save the Children, will exchange information on Save the Children’s Prep Rally, which helps children learn the basics of emergency preparedness through engaging activities and games and can be formatted to fit your program.
• Hilary Palotay, American Red Cross, will share information on the Pillowcase Project, a preparedness education program for children in grades 3–5.
• Captain Rob Tosatto, Medical Reserve Corps & Jane Shovlin, Arizona Health Occupations Students of America, will share information on the partnership between Medical Reserve Corps and HOSA and how to engage youth in contributing to school and community preparedness.

How to Join the Webinar: 

• Connect using Adobe Connect Registration Web Link
• Please register for the event. Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection before the meeting
• This webinar will offer closed captioning

Small Business Administration money available for #AltusOK area folks

One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – District Director Dottie Overal of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Oklahoma District Office, today reminded small businesses of the February 26, 2016, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight‑line winds and flooding that occurred May 5 - June 22, 2015.

According to Overal, small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. “EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” Overal said.

These low-interest federal disaster EIDL loans are available in the following counties:

Oklahoma counties - Adair, Atoka, Beckham, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Washita;

Arkansas counties - Benton, Crawford, Little River, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Sevier and Washington;

Kansas county - Cherokee;

Missouri counties - McDonald and Newton;

Texas counties - Bowie, Clay, Collingsworth, Cooke, Fannin, Grayson, Lamar, Montague, Red River, Wheeler, Wichita and Wilbarger.

The interest rate is 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website athttps://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more disaster assistance information, or to download applications, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

# # #

Keep Safe During Severe Winter Weather

A severe winter storm is expected in some states, stretching from Arkansas to Massachusetts according to the National Weather Service.   Due to the potential severe winter weather, there is also an increased likelihood of power outages. Consider these tips to keep your entire household safe and warm:  Stay home! Stay off the roads during severe weather conditions; Have enough water and non-perishable foods for at least 72 hours; Have emergency supplies and refill your prescriptions;  Wear layered clothing and use blankets or sleep bags to stay warm; and Avoid using generators, outdoor heating or cooking equipment, such as a grill, camp stove, or gasoline propane heater indoors. On the Road?  Drive slowly and keep clear of snow plows; Wear layers of clothes to keep warm; Charge your cell phone and minimize usage; and  Try to keep a full tank of gas to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. For more information, check out the "When the Sky Turns Gray" video.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service #AltusOK

Monday, January 18, 2016, is the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service.  Join Americans nationwide who will answer the call to service by assisting their communities in large and small ways. One of those ways can be ensuring that your loved ones and neighbors are ready for natural disasters, power outages, or other emergencies. You can build an emergency kit for a neighbor or check that the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are properly working in a friend’s home. You can also find opportunities to serve through your local CERT and Citizen Corps Councils.   The MLK Day of Service is part of the United We Serve initiative – the President’s national call to service. For more information, visit the Corporation for National Community Service website.

Thank You for Helping to Prepare the Nation #AltusOK #OKready

The Individual and Community Preparedness Division would like to thank all of the individuals, families and organizations who helped make 2015 a great year for preparedness! You demonstrated your commitment to preparing your homes, communities, and the nation for disasters in many ways, including your continued participation with Community Emergency Response Teams, youth preparedness, and registered America’s PrepareAthon! events. In 2015, people across the country planned events for America’s PrepareAthon! bringing together schools, businesses, local government, faith leaders, hospitals, employees, individuals, families, and others to participate in preparedness drills and activities. Some of these experiences are featured in the new “stories” section on the campaign’s website, highlighting the incredible work happening around the country.   In one story, Visa, the global payments technology company, prepared its staff for emergencies – both at home and work. Visa conducted a two-day event that allowed staff to meet with local and national emergency preparedness organizations, build their own family and pet emergency plans, and join the financial company’s own emergency response team. They were able to sign up more than 100 employees for the team!  In another story, Smyrna, TN became the first town in the state to participate in  activities with America’s PrepareAthon!. In partnership with Smyrna, GA – more than 1,000 community members participated in a tornado safety drill in 2015. The town also held its first  emergency preparedness expo with with more than 30 sponsoring organizations – the Rutherford County’s Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, and Emergency Management Agency, Smryna Police and Fire Department, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We also appreciate your record-setting participation and engagement in various preparedness webinars throughout 2015. With 18 webinars, we reached more than 8,500 people with preparedness messages. Thank you to the speakers and participants who attended some of our biggest webinars, such as:  “Resources to Help Houses of Worship Prepare for Emergencies” with 1,149 participants;  “Community Discussion: Preparing Individuals Disproportionately Impacted by Disasters” with 596 participants; and “Local Partnerships between the American Red Cross and CERT” with 462 participants. We would also like to thank the winners of the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards for your outstanding contributions toward making communities safer, better prepared, and more resilient.   We encourage you to continue preparing your homes, businesses, organizations, and houses of worship for another eventful year. We look forward to hearing and sharing your preparedness success stories. Thank you, and we wish everyone a safe and happy New Year!

How do your pets do winter? #AltusOK #OKice

Winter Care for Pets

Winter weather can be dangerous not only for humans, but for pets too! Taking extra precautions throughout the season can ensure your pets stay healthy and happy. The Humane Society of the Unites States offers tips to keep pets safe, including:

• Protect paws from salt. This and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Be sure to wipe off their paws with a damp towel;
• Keep pets warm and indoors. No matter the temperature, windchill can threaten a pet’s life. Pets are sensitive to severe cold and are at risk for frostbite when outdoors during extreme cold snaps; and
• Avoid antifreeze poisoning. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that may attract animals but is a deadly poison. Don’t allow pets to wander unattended near driveways, garages or other places when they may come into contact with antifreeze.

It only takes a few tablespoons of highly toxic antifreeze to injure your pet.Learn the signs of antifreeze poisoning.