2010 News

February 25, 2010

Ready Notify PA - Find out First!Commissioners Join County Emergency Management Agency To Offer Storm Safety Tips 

 

As the fourth major winter storm of the season envelopes the Delaware Valley, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners reminds residents of some common sense measures everyone can take to help ensure public safety. According to county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director John Dougherty, these tips are particularly important with regard to the county 9-1-1 emergency call center – which receives a heightened volume of activity during any severe weather event.

With the possibility of high winds and power outages, residents are asked to do the following:

  • Only use 9-1-1 for “life-threatening” emergencies – Bucks County Emergency Communications requests that you do not dial 9-1-1 to report power outages or to ask when your power will be restored. Instead call your provider: PECO at 1-800-841-4141, or PPL at 1-800-342-5775. In addition, please do not call 9-1-1 to ask about state road conditions. Instead, call PennDOT at either 511 or visit www.511pa.com. For questions about the plow status of your own street, please do not call 9-1-1. Instead call your local municipality at the number listed in the blue pages of the telephone book. If you need assistance for an emergency that is an immediate threat to life or property,  that is the appropriate time to call 9-1-1.
  • Do not hang up on 9-1-1 – Once you place a call to 9-1-1, the only time you should hang up is if you must do so for your own safety. Unlike a normal telephone call, a 9-1-1 hang-up stays in the system and a police officer must be dispatched to your location.
  • Plan for the storm – Previous storms this winter have produced widespread power outages. Every family, business and organization should have a disaster plan that will permit them to function as a family or business for at least 72 hours if outside assistance is unavailable. This disaster plan should include key items such as water, food, batteries, flashlights, prescription medicines and other necessities. A comprehensive list of items to have on hand as part of any emergency plan is available at http://www.buckscounty.org/ReadyBucks/pdf/checklist.pdf. Remember, each family is different. Tailor the list to your own needs.
  • Exercise caution driving – Icy conditions, reduced visibility and high snow piles make for difficult driving. In addition, it is important to give snow plows plenty of room to operate.
  • Shovel snow carefully – In addition to warming up and stretching before shoveling sidewalks and driveways, be careful not to overexert and follow all relevant safety instructions when using snow blowers. Many injuries also are the result of falls. Shovel out fire hydrants and mailboxes, when possible.
  • Check on shut-in and elderly neighbors.
  • Be careful with alternate heating sources, and be mindful that a flashlight or battery lantern is a much safer emergency light source than a candle.

For the latest information about pending emergency situations, residents should consider signing up for ReadyNotifyPA (www.ReadyNotifyPA.org) to receive timely e-mail and/or text messages that are sent directly to cell phones, Blackberries, pagers or other e-mail enabled devices.

For additional emergency preparedness information, please visit Ready Bucks.