Pendleton County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Newsletter
Winter 2009	Volume 1, Number 6
Please call the office for free training opportunities: NIMS/CERT/ First Aid/ CPR 304 358-3889		From the Director’s Desk: Curtis Crigler/OEM Smoke alarm safety tips Smoke alarms save lives. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Safety tips                                        Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms and a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes. Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button. Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance. Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly. Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician. If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time. An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance. Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice. Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing . These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. Please visit www.nfpa.org for more safety tips.
As the largest humanitarian organization in the United States, the American Red Cross depends on volunteers to accomplish the organization's mission: providing relief to victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. In general, the Red Cross provides disaster relief and preparedness, international tracing, messaging to members of the Armed Forces and their families, health and safety classes, blood donations and much more.  For more information on the American Red Cross Eastern Panhandle Chapter call 358-3889.         Drive Carefully!   Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security 335 Mill Run Rd PO Box 187 Franklin, WV 26807 304-358-3889 Phone 304-358-2809    Fax tact1200@yahoo.com	Thanks from the Pendleton County Community Emergency Response Team!!!!     As you know, needy families and individuals in our community go without proper food on a daily basic. With the generous support of people in Pendleton County we were able to help many of these families and individuals not only to meet essential daily needs, but to work toward a brighter future by fighting hunger in Pendleton County. The Food Drive for the CAN (Christian Assistances Network) project was a success! Over 400 pounds of can food and cash donations of $219.00 was collected to purchase paper towels, bath tissue, and personal items for CAN clients. Thanks to Alan Thomas of Great Valu for providing the space for the Food Drive. Contact Edna Mullenax for more information about CERT  304 358-3889               Candle safety tips   Candles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of home fires — and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn. Safety tips Candle with care Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn. If you do burn candles, make sure that you... Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily. Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface. Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame. Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container. Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home. Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.   Nearly 3 in 4 people killed in home heating fires used space heaters NFPA releases new heating fires report and urges caution January 23, 2009 – Nearly three in four people killed in home heating fires in 2006 died in fires that involved (stationary or portable) space heaters, according to a new report released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In 2006, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 U.S. home structure fires, 540 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $943 million in direct property damage. The peak months for home heating fires are December, January, and February. NFPA urges the public to be cautious when using heating equipment. Other key findings from Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment report: Home heating fires are more likely to occur in the evening and peak between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Fatal home heating fires are more likely to occur between midnight and 10:00 a.m. The leading factor contributing to home heating fires was when heating equipment was left too close to things that can burn. Sixty percent of the confined chimney and flue fires (2003-2006) occurred because the chimney was not cleaned. NFPA offers the following heating safety tips. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable heater. Only use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Never use your oven for heating. Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. For fuel burning space heaters, always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer. Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room and burn only dry, seasoned wood. Allow ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from the home. For wood burning stoves, install chimney connectors and chimneys following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation. Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not attempt to light the appliance. Turn off all the controls and open doors and windows. Call a gas service person. Test smoke alarms at least monthly.         Emergency preparedness       Discuss what to do in an evacuation. When told by officials, go immediately to a shelter as instructed or to the home of a friend or relative who lives out of the area. Find out about your local shelters beforehand.   Know evacuation routes. Pre-establish several different routes in case certain roads are blocked or closed.   Family members can become separated during an emergency. Be prepared by creating a plan for how to reach one another. Establish an out-of-area contact (such as a relative or friend) who can coordinate family members' locations and information should you become separated. Make sure children learn the phone numbers and addresses, and know the emergency plans. Quiz children every six months so they remember what to do, where to go, and whom to call in an emergency. Decide how to take care of pets. Pets are not allowed in places where food is served, so you will need to have a place to take your pets if you have to go to a shelter. Post emergency phone numbers (fire, police, ambulance, etc.) by the phone.   Assemble a family disaster supplies kit (PDF, 257 KB) and keep a smaller one in the trunk of your vehicle. In a disaster, local officials and relief workers cannot reach everyone immediately. Help may not arrive for hours or days. You and your family -- and don't forget to include the needs of those with disabilities -- need to be prepared ahead of time because you won't have time to shop or search for the supplies you will need when a disaster strikes. Most disasters are natural disasters, the result of some force of nature, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Some natural disasters can be predicted, such as hurricanes and severe winter storms, while others, such as tornadoes and earthquakes, happen with little or no warning. Some disasters are the cause of human actions, intentional or unintentional. A disaster plan will help with safety, security, and comfort. Regardless of the type of disaster, there are things you can do to prepare. Contact your local Red Cross chapter, visit the FEMA Web site, or Ready.gov to make sure you are aware of the potential for natural disasters in your community. After you have identified the types of disasters that could strike where you live, create a family disaster plan that can apply to any type of disaster – natural, unintentional, or intentional. Prepare an emergency supplies kit Disaster can occur suddenly and without warning. They can be frightening for adults, but they are traumatic for children if they don't know what to do when these events occur. Children depend on daily routines. When an emergency disturbs their routine, children can become nervous. In an emergency, they'll look to parents or other adults to help. How parents react to an emergency gives children an indication on how to act. They see their parents' fear as proof that the danger is real. A parent's response during this time may have a long-term impact. Including children in the family's recovery plans will help them feel that their life will return to normal. Families should prepare an emergency supplies kit (PDF, 257 KB) and develop a plan. Practice your plan so that everyone will remember what to do in an emergency. Everyone in the home, including children, should play a part in the family's response and recovery efforts. Remember: make the plan simple so everyone can remember the details. For more information on Disaster Preparedness Presentations contact the Office of Emergency Management 304 358-3889