Tick, Tock, Turn BACK the Clock

Tick, tock! Sunday, November 1 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time. Use this opportunity to not only prepare your clocks to “fall back”, but also prepare your home for fire emergencies by changing the batteries in your smoke alarms. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), smoke alarms are essential to home fire safety and should be properly maintained. To promote fire safety in your home, remember to: Put smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including every bedroom and the hallway outside of each sleeping area; Test smoke alarms monthly; Change the smoke alarm battery at least once per year; Replace smoke alarms that are more than ten years old; and Develop a home fire escape plan so that everyone knows two ways out and knows a safe place to meet. Practice your plan twice per year.  To learn more about fire escape planning, check out this USFA public service announcement.

Look what happened in Bixby during the #OKflood #OKready

Bixby Community Emergency Response Team Activates for Flood Incident

Heavy rains have caused severe flooding across parts of the southern Plains in recent weeks, leaving many communities devastated and in need of assistance. In response to flooding in their community, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Bixby, Oklahoma sprang into action to help residents evacuate their homes.

To assist with the flooding, Bixby police asked CERT volunteers to put up barricades and help residents leave their neighborhoods. Bixby CERT has helped the local police and fire departments with previous events, but this was their biggest incident and first activation for a natural disaster.  

According to Bixby CERT Assistant Program Manager, Laura Konshak, the team was in the field supporting the incident for 13 hours. They also train twice a month in first aid, search and rescue, and disaster response.

Created nearly two years ago, Bixby CERT has 30 volunteers who are always on call and ready to assist the community during an emergency. In fact, one volunteer left his honeymoon early so he could respond to the incident.

Learn more about Bixby CERT’s recent flood response efforts with this clip from FOX23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

CERT programs educate the public about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their community and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Looking for a CERT in your area? Be sure to check the listing of state programs.

@RedCross has a new Emergency App #AltusOK

Take your disaster preparedness to the next level with the new mobile application (app) from the American Red Cross called Emergency. This all-inclusive app provides real-time severe weather alerts and safety information for various hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis. You can even customize the app by choosing to receive alerts for hazards that impact your community the most.

Other features of Emergency include:

• More than 35 severe weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey;
• Expert Red Cross tips and guidance on what to do before, during and after severe weather hits – including a simple way to "Make a Plan" and be prepared;
• A toggle to view content in Spanish; and
• Engaging quizzes to test your knowledge on emergency topics.

This free mobile app is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

This is National Teen Driver Safety Week #AltusOK #OKready

•••October 18-24, 2015•••

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the U.S. In fact, almost half of the teen drivers involved in a crash die. Yet, a recent survey show that only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of driving. You are the parent, they are your children, and they still have a lot of learn. You can teach them and you may just help save their lives.

The "5 to Drive" campaign encourages parents to visit www.safercar.gov/parents/teendriving and discuss with their teens one safety topic each day during national teen driver safety week.

The "5 to Drive" campaign topics are:

1 No cell phone use or texting while driving,

2 No extra passengers,

3 No speeding,

4 No alcohol, and…

5 No driving or riding without a seat belt.

Even if you think they don't hear you, they do.

Set the Rules Before They Hit the Road.

Check out the Redesigned America's PrepareAthon! Website

Have you heard?  The redesigned America's PrepareAthon! website is now available, featuring a a bold new look and some exciting new additions!

Now, it's easier than ever to find disaster preparedness resources, add your preparedness activities to the website, and learn how to prepare your community for hazards. There is also a stories section that highlights exciting preparedness activities happening around the country.

Also, all registered PrepareAthon! activities for the year are now featured on an interactive map, so you can quickly view or search for preparedness events nationwide. If you're organizing an event for the first time and want to register the event on the website, you'll need to create an account to add your activity. You can also indicate if you would like to be publicly listed as a supporter of America's PrepareAthon! If you are a returning user, you'll need to request a new password to login to your account.

The website is now also compatible for your mobile device, so you can make updates to your America's PrepareAthon! account while on the go.

Welcome to the all-new website from America's PrepareAthon!

San Andreas Drop Cover Hold ON. #OKeq #AltusOK #OKready

In an effort to raise awareness of earthquake preparedness, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ad Council have partnered with Warner Brothers to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSA’s) featuring scenes from the action thriller San Andreas, starring Dwayne Johnson.

The PSA’s educate audiences on the three steps to take if an earthquake strikes; “Drop, Cover and Hold On.” The PSA’s direct audiences to Ready.gov/Earthquake, where visitors can access more information on how to protect themselves, their families, and property before, during, and after an earthquake.

“Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the U.S. without warning,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The PSA provides earthquake safety tips that are vital to preparing yourself and your family to react quickly, which will save lives.”

For more information about the PSA’s, please read the full press release.

FEMA.gov Communities - National Preparedness Community Main Group - The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Ad Council Release new PSAs in Partnership with New Movie San Andreas

How to Develop a Family Emergency Plan Webinar today #AltusOK

Communication networks, such as mobile phones and computers, could be unreliable during disasters, and electricity could be disrupted. Planning in advance will help ensure that all the members of your household—including children and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, as well as outside caregivers—know how to reach each other and where to meet up in an emergency.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is pleased to invite you to a webinar to provide an overview of America’s PrepareAthon!, showcase the recently released Be Smart. Take Part. Create Your Family Emergency Communication Plan and to inform the public on the importance of making a family plan, especially in the event communication networks are not accessible.

Title: How to Develop a Family Emergency Plan

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Time:  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

Speakers:                                                  

·        Mathew Lyttle, FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division

·        Edward Johnson, Guest speaker on family emergency planning

·        Karrie Delaney, Guest speaker on family emergency planning

 How to Join the Webinar:

·        Adobe Connect Registration Web Link.

·        Please register for the event.  Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.

·        This webinar will offer closed captioning.

We hope that you will be able to join us on October 7!

What are you doing to get #OKready for #OKfire this week?

Fire Prevention Week 2015

October 4-10, 2015 is Fire Prevention Week! This year’s theme is: “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm!”

This message encourages you to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep.

Smoke alarms save lives! If there is a fire in your home, a working smoke alarm will give you a chance to quickly escape. Learn how to properly install and maintain smoke alarms in your home  by visiting the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) “Smoke Alarm Central.”

Fire safety is something everyone can practice. The NFPA has interactive games and activities to make Fire Prevention Week fun for the entire family. Test your fire safety knowledge with the NPFA Fire Quiz. Kids can also learn how to stay safe with puzzles and videos featuring “Sparky the Fire Dog.”

Download the Fire Prevention Week infographic to share important fire safety tips with family and friends.

This year, USFA is dedicating the month of October to providing fire safety tips using hashtag #firesafein31. USFA will share daily tips to help make homes and families safer. Follow #firesafein31 on Twitter at @usfire and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usfire.

Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives #AltusOK #OKfire

Is your smoke alarm working? It’s Fire Prevention Week, and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has life-saving information to help you protect yourself and your loved ones! This year’s theme is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives”.

Smoke alarms are a very important means of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal so you have time to escape a fire. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family and your home. According to the USFA, working smoke alarms cut the risk of fatality in reported home fires by half.

While fires can start from various sources in the home, experts say cookingis the leading cause of home fire and fire injuries. Here are a few tips for preventing kitchen fires:

• Keep an eye on what you fry;
• Be alert when cooking; and
• Keep items (such as kitchen towels) that can catch fire away from cooking areas.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.