Tompkins Ready

Winter Weather Safety:

Winter can bring dangerously cold temperatures and create hazardous weather conditions. Check out the National Weather Service Winter Safety page, and be prepared by brushing up on these additional winter safety tips from the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

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Winter Fire Safety:

You can help put a freeze on winter fires. Did you know home fires occur more in winter than in any other season? As you stay cozy and warm this winter, be fire smart!

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By taking some basic precautions, you can help ensure your family and guests remain safe and injury-free throughout the holidays:

  • Only use holiday decorations that are flame-retardant or not flammable.
  • Check holiday lights each year for frayed wires or excessive wear.
  • Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors.
  • Don’t link together more than three strands of holiday lights.
  • Never leave a burning candle unattended. Better yet, consider using battery-operated flameless candles.
  • Keep your live Christmas tree away from heat sources and room exits.
  • Water your live Christmas tree daily to keep it from becoming dry.
  • Use a screen on your fireplace at all times when a fire is burning.
  • Develop and practice a fire escape plan. Know where to meet outside your home.
  • Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, and outside all sleeping areas.

Holiday Cooking Safety:

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

  • Keep an eye on food when cooking.  Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires. 
  • Move things that can burn away from the stove.  This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper, and curtains.
  • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so no one can bump them or pull them over.
  • In case of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it’s cool.
  • If you have a fire in your oven and the flames escape it, leave your home and call 911.
  • Turkey fryers can tip over easily, make sure it is on a sturdy, level surface, and do not move it once it is in use.  Make sure it is at least 10 feet from your home and not under roof eaves.  For more tips on turkey fryers go to https://www.usfa.fema.gov. 

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What3Words:

What3words is a geocode system for the communication of locations with a resolution of three meters. What3words encodes geographic coordinates into three dictionary words; the encoding is permanently fixed. If help is needed (whether you're snowmobiling or hiking this winter), providing a what3words address on a 9-1-1 call can pinpoint your location quickly. Learn more and download the What3words app here.

Read how "What3words” helped rescue a group of hikers from Watkins Glen State Park.

Community Preparedness:

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Register to attend a Citizen Preparedness Corps training near you and learn how to prepare for any type of disaster or emergency, respond accordingly and recover. Learn more at the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services page.

Topics include how to develop a family emergency plan, how to prepare your family and home for a potential emergency such as fire, what to do in specific situations such as active shooter, and covers evacuation or sheltering-in-place due to a life-threatening event, and much more. The training also discusses what to do when returning home after an emergency, including re-entry procedures, checking for and documenting damage safely, addressing emotional and other personal needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, and being wary of post-disaster scams.

Disasters and weather don't plan ahead, but you can. Sign up for a citizen preparedness corps training today

Additional Preparedness Checklists:

Tune In:

Disaster and emergency information will broadcast from these local radio stations:

  • 870AM WHCU
  • 97.3FM WYXL
  • 91.7FM WICB

If your TV is working, monitor a regional all-news channel, such as Spectrum News, or the Weather Channel. A weather radio will also provide accurate and current information.

National Weather Service in Binghamton

What types of emergencies can happen in Tompkins county?

There are certain basic concepts of preparedness that apply to any type of situation:

  • Be Informed
  • Make a Plan
  • Build a Kit
  • Get Involved

Learn more at www.ready.gov.

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