Tompkins Ready

FALL WEATHER SAFETY:

Fall is a wonderful time of year, but it does have its share of hazards. Think safety as you enjoy the cooler temperatures and vibrant colors.
Check out the National Weather Service Fall Safety page here.
For additional autumn safety tips, visit the Farmers' Almanac.

Fall Image

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FALL FIRE SAFETY:

Heat your home safely this fall by keeping anything that can burn at least three feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters, or candles. Plug space heaters directly into the wall and turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed. Never use an oven to heat your home. Learn more here.

Fire Safety Image 2024

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HOLIDAY COOKING SAFETY:

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.

Photo of cooked Turkey

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WHAT3WORDS:

Boating Safety image with water and boat. What3Words Image Person Hiking

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 on the water or on hiking trails), providing a what3words address on a 9-1-1 call can pinpoint your location quickly. Learn more and download the What3words app here.

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

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS:

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: https://www.dhses.ny.gov/citizen-preparedness-corps. The next training in Tompkins County will be offered on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Dryden Fire Department, 26 North Street.

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.

Community Preparedness Logo Image

The Department of Emergency Response offers presentations to community groups and organizations to provide basic information on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters or emergencies. Learn which ones are more likely to occur in our area and how you can reduce their impact on you, your family, and the community. Contact Geoff Dunn, Community Preparedness Coordinator, at gdunn@tompkins-co.org.

Additional Preparedness Checklists:

Generator Maintenance Checklist
https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/generator-maintenance-checklist

72 Hour Emergency Kit List
https://www.rent.com/blog/72-hour-kit-checklist/

Car Emergency Kit List
https://www.utires.com/articles/car-emergency-kit-list/

Important Legal Documents
https://www.justgreatlawyers.com/legal-documents-to-prepare-for-emergency-preparedness

Emergency Preparedness Checklist
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/emergency-preparedness-checklist/

Disaster-Proof Home
https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/how-to-disaster-proof-your-home/

Home Emergencies & Safety Tips
https://www.mymove.com/moving/guides/new-home-emergency-ready/

Construction Site Safety
https://primeweld.com/blogs/news/disaster-safety-preparedness-in-construction-sites-guide

Additional Resource Information
https://couponfollow.com/research/disaster-preparedness-on-a-budget

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